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Catholic Priest Shot, Hospitalized, Nigeria’s Makurdi Diocese Appeals for Spiritual Solidarity for His “quick recovery”

Fr. Solomon Atongo. Credit: Catholic Diocese of Makurdi
Jude Atemanke

By Jude Atemanke

Makurdi, 25 May, 2025 / 9:45 pm (ACI Africa).

The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi has appealed for prayers for the speedy recovery of Fr. Solomon Atongo, who is in hospital after he was shot by “suspected terrorist herdsmen” on Saturday, May 24.

In a statement issued May 24, the Chancellor of the Nigerian Diocese says the Parish Priest of St. Theresa Jimba of Makurdi Diocese was “attacked and shot” while returning to his Parish.

“I request your Prayers for the quick recovery of one of our Priests, Revd Fr. Solomon Atongo, who was attacked and shot around Tyolaha, Makurdi-Naka Road, Gwer West Local Government by suspected terrorist herdsmen,” Fr. Shima Ukpanya says in the statement shared with ACI Africa.

Fr. Ukpanya says shot Catholic Priest “was still breathing at the time the security men brought him to the clinic, and the medics were working hard to stabilize him.”

“Let us unite in Prayer for God's healing upon him as the medics try to stabilize him,” he says in the statement, and implores, “May our Lady Mother of Perpetual Help intercede for us.”

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The shooting of Atongo follows a series of other kidnappings that have targeted Catholic Priests in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.

Insecurity is rife in the West African nation, where kidnappings, murder, and other forms of persecution against Christians remain rampant in many parts of the country, especially the North.

On March 5, Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan was murdered a day after his abduction. A couple of days before, the Seminarian abducted on March 3 from a Parish Rectory in Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Auchi alongside Fr. Philip Ekweli was murdered by his abductors. Fr. Ekweli was set free.

Earlier, on February 22, Fr. Matthew David Dutsemi and Fr. Abraham Saummam were abducted from the Catholic Diocese of Yola. They were later released.

On February 19, Fr. Moses Gyang Jah of St. Mary Maijuju Parish of Shendam Diocese was abducted alongside his niece and the Parish Council Chairman, Mr. Nyam Ajiji. The Parish Council Chairman was reportedly killed. Fr. Jah and his niece are yet to be freed.

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The same month, on February 6, Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak, a member of the Clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Shendam and student at Veritas University Abuja in the West African nation, was abducted and later escaped from captivity. 

Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009, when Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state. Catholic Bishops in the country have continually challenged the government to prioritize the security of citizens.

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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