Reverend Father Joseph Akete of the St. John Catholic Church, Kudenda in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who was kidnapped eight weeks ago, has died in captivity.
The Chancellor, Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Rev. Fr. Christian Okewu Emmanuel, disclosed this in Kaduna on Wednesday.
Gunmen on March 8 invaded the church and abducted the priest, killing one security guard.
According to the Chancellor, the priest had died between April 18 and 20, 2022.
He said the cleric was ill before the abduction, noting that the hoodlums never allowed the priest go along with his drugs as of the time of the incident.
The Chancellor said, “Rev. Father, Joseph, aged 48, was kidnapped from his residence, in St. John Catholic Church Kudenda, where he was serving as Parish Priest, on the 8th March, 2022.
“His own brother was killed there in his presence and after his brother was killed, his condition worsened and he died.
“We have not recovered his corpse but we have confirmed his death. People who were kidnapped together with him saw him died.”