The Jos East Local Government Area chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State, Rev. James Kantoma, has been kidnapped by gunmen. Kantoma is also a Catholic priest in charge of St. Anthony’s Parish, Angware community, Jos East LGA, of the state.
According to reports, Kantoma was kidnapped on Sunday night in his home in Angware. His abduction was confirmed to The Punch by a resident of the community, Silas Joshua.
Joshua said, “When the gunmen arrived at the community at night, they moved straight to the house of the Reverend Father. Some youths in the area, who were alerted, tried to stop and even gave them a hot chase into the bush but the gunmen started shooting everywhere and eventually took the Reverend Father away.”
The abduction was also confirmed by the State Chairman of CAN, Polycarp Lubo. He described the incident as a sad one.
Lubo said, “Since the gunmen took the Reverend Father away, we have not heard anything either from him or the abductors up till this morning. This is so sad. But we are praying for him that no harm will befall him wherever he is. But for how long shall innocent citizens continue to be kidnapped or abducted without anything being done to address the problem?”
The Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, Alabo Alfred, said the Command was aware of the kidnap of the cleric. Also, he said that security operatives and men from the anti-kidnapping unit have been deployed to the community.
He said, “Our men are already working to ensure that the cleric regains his freedom and apprehends those behind the abduction.”
In recent times, clerics have been the target of gunmen. Recently, the Bishop of Methodist Church in Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Kanu-Uche, was kidnapped and a ransom of N100m was paid before he regained his freedom.
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