A tragic incident unfolded on Thursday night as bandits launched an attack on St. Rachael’s Catholic Parish in Fadan Kamantan, located in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. During this attack, the parish house was set ablaze, resulting in the tragic death of a seminarian named Na’aman Danladi. Fadan Kamantan is situated in Southern Kaduna.
Reports indicate that while some priests managed to escape during the attack, Danlami, a seminarian, was trapped in the fire, and his life could not be saved. His remains have been placed in the mortuary.
The Acting Police Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansur Alhassan, confirmed the attack, assuring that the authorities are actively addressing the situation.
Revd John Hayab, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, also confirmed the incident and strongly condemned the attack on the parish. He expressed deep sorrow over the continued violence and evil acts in the region.
Hayab pointed out that the bandits specifically targeted the residence of the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okolo, who also serves as the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, and his assistant. Fortunately, both priests narrowly escaped the attack, but the criminals set the entire rectory ablaze, resulting in the tragic death of the seminarian, who was in the final stages of his training to become a Catholic Priest.
The CAN chairman raised concerns about the proximity of the attack to the Kaduna-Kafanchan highway, where a military checkpoint is located. He questioned the ability of security forces to respond effectively to such incidents when they occur.
Hayab expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts by the Kaduna State government to address the security challenges in the state, such as the recruitment of over 7,000 individuals into the Kaduna State Vigilante Services. He called on the Governor of Kaduna State and all relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to apprehend those responsible for the attack and bring them to justice.
Senator Sunday Katung, who represents Kaduna South, also strongly condemned the attack, labeling it a cowardly and callous act. He called for a one-month intensive military operation in the forests of Southern Kaduna to combat the bandits and kidnappers effectively.
Governor Uba Sani expressed his condemnation of the attack as well, vowing to track down the perpetrators and ensure they face the full extent of the law. He emphasized that the violence was not only an attack on the Catholic community but also an attempt to sow discord among the people. The governor called upon the security agencies to swiftly investigate the incident and bring the culprits to justice while extending his condolences to the victims’ families and offering government support.