Gunmen, believed to be bandits, have kidnapped and killed Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu, the parish priest of St. Mary Catholic Church in Tachira, located in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Fr. Okechukwu, originally from Ozalla Nkanu in Enugu State, was abducted from his residence at around 9:15 pm on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. His captors brutally murdered him in the early hours of Wednesday, March 5.
The Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Rev. Fr. Jacob Shanet, confirmed the tragic event in a statement, noting that the motive for Fr. Okechukwu’s death has not yet been determined.
“This untimely and brutal loss has left us heartbroken and devastated,” the statement read. “Fr. Sylvester was a devoted servant of God, always spreading messages of peace, love, and hope. He worked selflessly in the vineyard of the Lord and was always available to his parishioners. His untimely passing has created an irreplaceable void in our diocesan family, and we share in the grief of his loss with his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him.”
The Diocese has called on the faithful to come together in prayer for Fr. Okechukwu’s soul, urging priests and religious members to offer Masses and Rosaries for him.
Fr. Shanet also appealed for calm, especially among the youth and members of the Takad community, urging them to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. “The funeral arrangements will be announced in due course. Let us continue to stand united in prayer and faith during this sorrowful time,” he said.
Fr. Okechukwu, born in December 1980, was ordained a Catholic priest on February 11, 2021.
