SW News: A Nigerian Catholic priest who was kidnapped from his parish residence in the Diocese of Kafanchan on Monday, July 4, regained his freedom nearly 24 hours later. Unidentified armed men abducted Fr Emmanuel Silas from the rectory of St Charles Catholic Church in Zambina region of Kauru Local Government area in Kaduna state.

The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the release of Fr Silas on the same day through a communique. Fr Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo, the diocese's Chancellor, thanked the faithful who prayed for the safe release of the priest. The statement read, "With hearts filled with joy, we raise our voices in a symphony of praises as we announce the return of our brother, Fr Emmanuel Silas, who was abducted by armed persons in the early morning hours of July 4."

Fr Okolo told all the priests to offer a Thanksgiving Mass on July 5, following the quick release of the priest. He concluded the statement by seeking the intercession of the Virgin of Guadalupe for those in captivity. Kafanchan diocese also urged further prayers for the release of two priests who are still in the hands of their captors.

The latest abduction and release of Fr. Silas follow a series of other kidnappings of members of the clergy in Africa's most populous nation. In the latest series of abductions, two priests, Fr Udo Peter of St Patrick's Catholic Church and Fr Philemon Oboh of St Joseph Retreat Center in Edo state, were kidnapped on Sunday, July 3. The priests of the Diocese of Uromi were traveling in a car along the Benin-Ekpoma road when armed men kidnapped them. Their whereabouts are still unknown. On June 25, armed men raided a prison farm along the Kaduna-Kachia Road and killed Fr Vitus Borogo belonging to Kaduna Archdiocese. Nearly 700 priests who came for his funeral ceremony held a silent protest against the government for turning a blind eye to the security of the people.