The kidnappers of two Catholic priests who were abducted in Northern Nigeria on Friday have demanded a huge ransom, according to the chairman of the Kaduna State branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev John Joseph Hayab.
The two men – Rev John Mark Cheitnum and Rev Donatus Cleopas were seized at gunpoint at a rectory in the village of Yadin Garu in Kaduna after having travelled there for a church event.
Kaduna’s Commissioner of police, Ayoku Yekini, told the BBC a rescue operation was under way with security forces ‘‘on the trail’’ of the kidnappers.
It is not yet clear who kidnapped the priests.
Rev Hayab said the local church could not afford the ransom being demanded. It was initially set at 50m naira ($120,000; £100,000), but had been negotiated down to 40m naira.
Source: BBC
