Kidnapped Priest Father Bobbo Paschal from Nigeria, has been freed after two months in captivity. He was kidnapped on November 17 following an attack on his parish residence in Kaduna State, in north-central Nigeria. During the attack, the bandits killed Father Bobbo’s brother.
The Archdiocese of Kaduna has issued a statement confirming the release of Father Paschal, which took place on January 17. Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna thanked the security forces for their efforts and the faithful for their prayers
The case of Father Bobbo Paschal is not an isolated incident. The bishops of Nigeria have reported that, in the last decade, more than 200 priests have been kidnapped . They explain that this crisis has affected 70% of the country’s dioceses.
Furthermore, the attacks continue. Between December 28 and January 3, 50 people were killed by armed groups . This massacre adds to those that have taken place over the past year. The most notorious occurred in Yelwata, where more than 200 people died at the hands of the attackers.
According to the 2025 Religious Freedom in the World Report by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Nigeria is a country where Christians are persecuted. This is largely due to the spread of jihadism in the north of the country and the incursion of radical Fulani herders into the mid-belt.
