Abuja, Nigeria — A Catholic priest who was abducted in Nigeria’s southeast a month ago has been killed by his captors, according to church officials, in a case that highlights the country’s worsening security crisis amid a surge in kidnappings for ransom.
Reverend Father Basil Gbuzuo, a priest from the Archdiocese of Onitsha in Anambra State, was taken by armed men on 15 October while travelling near Eke Nkpor. Despite ongoing efforts by church leaders and local authorities to secure his release, the abductors reportedly murdered him after prolonged negotiations failed. Church officials confirmed the killing late on Friday.
The Archdiocese expressed “deep sorrow” over the priest’s death and urged the government to intensify efforts to curb the wave of abductions plaguing communities, especially in the southeast where criminal gangs have become increasingly active.
Nigeria has faced a dramatic rise in kidnappings over recent years. Once concentrated in the northwest, abductions for ransom have now spread across the country, targeting civilians, clergy, schoolchildren and travellers. Analysts say the killing underscores how criminal groups are becoming more violent, even after receiving ransom payments.
Security experts warn that weak intelligence systems, stretched police capacity and deepening economic hardship have created conditions in which kidnapping networks thrive. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria condemned the killing and renewed calls for stronger government intervention to protect clergy and civilians in high-risk areas.
Authorities in Anambra State say an investigation is underway, but no arrests have been announced.
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