The Catholic Church in Nigeria asked to pray for the safe release of a young priest, Fr. Mark Chimezie Godfrey, who was ordained earlier this year, was kidnapped on Wednesday, October 13. Fr. Godfrey is the assistant to the parish priest of Santa Teresa Church of the Diocese of Umuahia. The priest was kidnapped during the morning after celebrating Mass in the Parish of San Gabriel, near his house.
A group of armed men intercepted Fr. Godfrey when he was in his vehicle, and forced him out of his vehicle. They took him in their truck, said Mathias Ezenwa Uwakwe, a member of Santa Teresa parish. The Chancellor of the Diocese of Nigeria asked for his safe and soon release. The abduction of Fr. Godfrey was the latest in a series of attacks that happened by targeting clergy and Christians in the West African nation. On October 11, a group of armed men attacked the Cristo Rey Major Seminary and kidnapped three seminarians who were released a couple of days later.