- Auchi, Nigeria (OSV News)
In response to the attack by gunmen a few days ago at the Minor Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Diocese of Auchi (Nigeria), Bishop Gabriel Dunia has asked for prayer and help, spiritual or human, to help contain the insecurity. On this occasion, the assailants killed a security officer and kidnapped three seminarians, reported the diocese of Auchi and Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Help has also been requested from the authorities.
ACN has strongly condemned the attack. And it joins the diocese of Auchi, "in mourning the loss of Mr. Aweneghieme and in fervent prayer for the safe and speedy release of the kidnapped seminarians."
"We stand in solidarity with the families affected and the Christian community, which continues to suffer the consequences of violence and instability," ACN said. This pontifical foundation supports local churches around the world that are struggling with religious persecution.
Diocese of Auchi, in contact with aggressors
Bishop Gabriel Dunia of Auchi has asked all priests in the diocese to celebrate masses, offer blessings, and lead the faithful in the rosary to ask for divine protection for the entire state of Edo.
Describing the attack in a message sent to ACN, he said, "They came in large numbers, and it was impossible for the guards to stop them." He further stated that the diocese is "connected with aggressors through mediators".
The bishop confirmed that the kidnapped seminarians are between 14 and 17 years old. The entire seminary community, students and professors, have been evacuated to nearby parishes until security measures are tightened. There are also plans to erect a protective fence around the seminary grounds.
A high ransom is not feasible
Although there has already been contact with the kidnappers, paying a high ransom is not feasible. "The students and their families live in extreme poverty. And the Auchi diocese itself depends on outside help, including from ACN, to cover the basic expenses of priestly formation," Bishop Dunia said. In addition, church authorities in Nigeria follow an official policy of not paying ransom, in part to avoid encouraging more kidnappings.
The Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, founded in 2006, has formed more than 500 students for the priesthood, and "continues to be a beacon of hope for the local Catholic community," ACN noted.
Violence in Africa's most populous country
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is experiencing deadly violence in various parts of the country. In particular by internationally recognized terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, mainly herdsmen, bandits or Islamic Fulani (ethnic) gangs.
The groups have invaded farmland, threatening farm owners and forcing Christians to leave. Analysts have described this as a slow but silent persecution that, so far, authorities have not classified as terrorism.
Pope Leo XIV prays for the victims
In mid-June, scenes of horror unfolded after some 200 people were "brutally murdered" in Yelwata, Benue State, Nigeria. Pope Leo XIV prayed for the victims, calling it a "terrible massacre". On the occasion of this attack, Omnes denounced the silence of the Spanish general press, which barely echoed the tragedy.
In addition, earlier in the same month, at least 85 people were killed in coordinated waves of attacks in the space of a week in Benue state. The Nigerian church is also experiencing numerous abductions of priests.
Father Alphonsus Afina, assigned to several Alaskan parishes from September 2017 through 2024, was abducted June 1 in Nigeria, his home country, along with an unspecified number of fellow travelers while in Nigeria's Borno state near the northeastern city of Gwoza. Faithful on two continents are praying for his safe return. As of July 15, he was still being held hostage.
Two million sequestered in one year (2023-2024)
In December, Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics released a report showing that more than 2 million people had been kidnapped between May 2023 and April 2024 alone. Around 600,000 Nigerians have been killed, and around $1.4 billion has been paid in ransom. An average of $1,700 per incident during that period.
Despite ongoing persecution, 94 % of self-identified Nigerian Catholics said in a survey that they attend weekly or daily Mass. The data was published in an early 2023 study by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.
Bishop's Appeal
Speaking to ACN, Bishop Dunia made an emotional appeal for solidarity, both within Nigeria and internationally. "I call on everyone, every person, to come to our aid: to pray for us, to make any effort, whatever it may be, material, spiritual or human, that will help us to contain the insecurity. Our local efforts are being overwhelmed," he said.
The bishop also expressed frustration at the lack of concrete protection from local authorities. "We are asking the civilian government to come to the site," Bishop Dunia added. "They assured us that they would stay to protect the area. But we have not seen any concrete action so far."
Attacks against Christians
Although the exact motives of the attackers are still unclear, Bishop Dunia told ACN that the situation in his diocese, located southwest of Abuja, Nigeria's capital, has been worrisome for some time. This is not the first attack on the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary. In March 2025, the rector of the seminary was kidnapped and one of the seminarians was killed.
These repeated attacks highlight the systematic threats that Christian institutions in Nigeria are increasingly facing. According to the prelate, the attackers come from the north and are believed to be members of the Fulani ethnic group.
"We don't even know for sure what they want. But we see a growing pattern of attacks targeting Christian communities and institutions," said the bishop, who expressed concern that this may be an attempt to occupy land or drive the Christian community out of the area.
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This news is a translation of the original OSV News in English, which can be consulted here. here.
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