Nigeria sees sharp rise in priest kidnappings in 2025

Two Catholic priests were kidnapped last weekend in Nigeria, marking a sharp escalation in violence against religious personnel in the country. The incidents bring the total number of kidnapped clergy in Nigeria in 2025 to 12 — making this the worst first quarter on record since data collection began, according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Fr. Stephen Echezona was abducted on Saturday in Anambra State while stopping at a fuel station, and just 24 hours later, Fr John Ubaechu was taken while driving in Imo State. Both regions are located in southern Nigeria, which has seen seven of the 12 kidnappings reported so far this year.

The increase is significant. In the same period last year, only three kidnappings were reported, with no fatalities. In 2023, there were two kidnappings and one murder. In contrast, 2025 has already seen two clergy killed — Fr Sylvester Okechukwu and seminarian Andrew Peter.

These latest incidents underscore Nigeria’s status as the most dangerous country in the world for Catholic clergy and religious. ACN reports that the country accounts for more than 80% of global cases of kidnapping, murder, or unjust arrest involving priests and religious in 2025.

While some abductions are believed to be religiously motivated, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt where intercommunal and religious tensions are high, many are part of a wider criminal enterprise. Ransom-based kidnappings have become widespread, and priests are often targeted due to their visibility and perceived access to financial support from their communities or religious institutions.

In some cases, members of the Christian community have been implicated in the crimes. This was recently the case in Yola, in northeast Nigeria, where investigations found that fellow Christians were involved in the abduction of two priests.

The Nigerian Catholic Bishops’ Conference continues to appeal to the government to improve the country’s deteriorating security situation. They also urge Catholics not to seek vigilante justice, emphasizing the importance of legal and peaceful responses.

Meanwhile, three priests remain missing after being kidnapped in previous years, with no confirmation of their fate. ACN and other Catholic organizations continue to press for their safe return while also funding local efforts to protect and train clergy in high-risk regions.

Neighboring Sierra Leone is seeing proactive measures to strengthen the Church’s role in national healing. With ACN’s support, 150 priests are currently undergoing training to serve as “agents of reconciliation, healing, social transformation, and national cohesion” following decades of conflict.

ACN continues to monitor and respond to these global threats to religious freedom. The organization has called for increased international attention to the crisis in Nigeria and appeals for continued support for affected communities.