Gunmen have reportedly abducted a reverend father of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Angware Parish in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, James Kantoma.
The gunmen were said to have kidnapped Kantoma, who is also the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the council area, on Monday morning in his residence.
A resident of the community, Paul Aware, who narrated how the priest was abducted, said: “When the gunmen arrived in the community early hours of Monday morning, they moved straight to the house of the reverend father.
“Some youths in the area immediately after the incident alerted the police and even tried to stop them. Some of them ran after the gunmen but they were shooting everywhere and eventually took the father away.”
Also confirming the incident, the state Chairman of CAN, Polycarp Lubo, said: “Since the gunmen took father away, we have not heard anything either from him or his abductors till this afternoon. This is so sad and unfortunate. But we are praying for him that no harm will befall him wherever he is.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for state Police Command, Alabo Alfred, said a police team had been deployed to the area.
He said: “Our men are already working to ensure that the reverend father regains his freedom and apprehend those behind his abduction.”