SW News: An abducted Nigerian Catholic priest and three others have been freed after two days in captivity. On Monday, unidentified armed men abducted Fr. Joseph Azubuike of Abakaliki Diocese and three others in Nigeria's Ebonyi State.

A release by the Diocesan Chancellor, Fr. Uzoma Opoke, said it was a case of prayers answered as the four were released unhurt. "It is a thing of joy that God answered our prayers and granted the unconditional release of His servant in a very remarkable way."

He thanked Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru and the security agencies for their efforts in assuring their release. Fr Azubuike is the Parish priest of St. Charles Parish in the Isu community in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

Earlier, Fr Mathew Opoke confirmed the abduction in a statement on Tuesday. He said the priest was kidnapped close to his parish while returning from evangelical duties. Fr Opoke had called for prayers for the safe release of the priest. He also disclosed that the abductors were making financial demands for the release.

The Christian population in Nigeria has faced a growing persecution threat since Boko Haram's insurgency in the 2010s. While Fulani militants operate in the middle and southern parts of Nigeria, the insurgency and Islamic State West Africa Province predominantly operate in the northeast.

In 2022, Nigeria ranked first in the number of Christians killed, assaulted, or abused and second in the number of Christians displaced and churches attacked, according to the Open Doors 2023 World Watch List report.