Reverend Father John Cheitnum, one of the two Catholic priests kidnapped by gunmen in Lere Local Government Area (LGA) in Kaduna State, has been murdered by his captors.
Recall that The Quest Times reported the abduction of Rev. Fr Cheitnum alongside another priest Rev Fr Donatus Cleopas on Friday, July 15, 2022.
The sad incident is the latest in line of unfortunate events which has seen priests become target of kidnapping by bandits.
His death was confirmed in a statement signed by the Chancellor of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr Emmanuel Okolo.
Until his death, Rev Fr Cheitnum served as the Director of Communications at the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) In Jema’a LGA.
According to the statement, he was killed on the day of his abduction, while his decomposing corpse was discovered on Tuesday.
His burial has been scheduled for Thursday, July 21, 2022 at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Kafanchan in Kaduna State.
Reverend Father Cleopas on the other hand regained his freedom after the alleged payment of an undisclosed sum as ransom.