Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

Articles by Jude Atemanke

Three nuns, a seminarian, and the driver of the vehicle they were in were abducted in Nigeria’s Imo State on Oct. 5, 2023. The nuns’ order, the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae, appealed for their safe release in an Oct. 6 statement. The group was released Oct. 13-14, 2023. Credit: Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria

Religious congregation grateful after release of abducted nuns, seminarian in Nigeria

Oct 19, 2023 / 14:00 pm

Three Catholic nuns, a seminarian, and their driver were abducted from Nigeria’s Abakaliki Diocese on Oct. 5 and released Oct. 13-14.

Three nuns, a seminarian, and the driver of the vehicle they were in were abducted in Nigeria’s Imo State on Oct. 5, 2023. The nuns’ order, the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae, appealed for their safe release in an Oct. 6 statement. Credit: Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae (MDME) in Nigeria

Sisters issue appeal for ‘safe release’ of 3 nuns who were abducted from Nigerian diocese

Oct 11, 2023 / 10:00 am

The vicar general of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria said five people were abducted Oct. 5 in Nigeria’s Imo State.

A screen grab from a video shared with ACI Africa that shows the parish house at St. Raphael Fadan Kamantan Catholic Church of the Diocese of Kafanchan in flames Sept. 7, 2023. Credit: ACI Africa

Suspects arrested in killing of seminarian in Nigerian parish rectory fire

Oct 5, 2023 / 10:45 am

Seminarian Na’aman Danlami died after Fulani bandits reportedly attacked St. Raphael Parish Fadan Kamantan on the night of Sept. 7 and set the rectory ablaze.

Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide was reportedly abducted from Nigeria’s Enugu Diocese on Sept. 17, 2023. Credit: Enugu Diocese

Abducted priest in Nigeria released, diocese ‘grateful’

Sep 25, 2023 / 15:00 pm

Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide, a parish priest at St. Mary Amofia-Agu Affa Parish in the Enugu Diocese, was set free on Thursday evening, Sept. 21.

Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide was reportedly abducted from Nigeria’s Enugu Diocese on Sept. 17, 2023. Credit: Enugu Diocese

Nigerian diocese calls for prayers for kidnapped priest

Sep 19, 2023 / 16:20 pm

Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide was on his way back to his parish in the Enugu Diocese on Sept. 17 when he was kidnapped along the road.

null Credit: Diocese of Kasese

Ugandan diocese observes five-day prayer for victims of secondary school attack

Jun 27, 2023 / 10:30 am

On June 16, suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces reportedly attacked the school, killing some 41 people, including 38 students.

Father Marcellus Nwaohuocha was abducted on June 17, 2023, from the Archdiocese of Jos in Nigeria. Credit: Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Missionary priest abducted in Nigeria’s Jos Archdiocese; security guard killed

Jun 19, 2023 / 16:30 pm

Father Marcellus Nwaohuocha, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was kidnapped June 17.

Father Jeremiah Yakubu of the Diocese of Kafanchan in Nigeria was freed on Monday, June 12, 2023, after 24 hours in captivity. Credit: Diocese of Kafanchan

Nigerian priest abducted on Corpus Christi Sunday regains freedom

Jun 14, 2023 / 09:00 am

Father Jeremiah Yakubu, who was kidnapped from his parish rectory in Karku, Nigeria, Sunday evening, has been released.

Father Charles Onomhoale Igechi was shot dead while returning from pastoral duties in Nigeria’s Benin City Archdiocese on Wednesday, June 7. Credit: Benin City Archdiocese

Nigerian priest returning from pastoral duties shot dead; archdiocese in ‘great shock’

Jun 12, 2023 / 12:15 pm

In a statement shared June 8 with ACI Africa, CNA’s African news partner, Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze expressed shock at the news.

Father Matthias Opara was freed May 28, 2023, after spending three days in captivity in Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri. Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri

Catholic priest in Nigeria freed on Pentecost Sunday after three days in captivity

May 30, 2023 / 12:30 pm

Father Matthias Opara, a Nigerian Catholic priest who was abducted on May 26 while returning from a funeral, has been released.

Easter Sunday Mass on April 9, 2023, was held for the first time in 10 months at St. Francis Xavier Owo Catholic Parish of Ondo Diocese in Nigeria. Credit: Ondo Diocese

Nigerian Catholic church attacked on Pentecost Sunday last year resumes public worship

Apr 14, 2023 / 13:45 pm

A parish church in Nigeria that was attacked on Pentecost Sunday last year reopened for Easter Sunday Mass on April 9.

Some victims of the attack at the hospital in Agan and Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. Courtesy of Credit: Father Moses Aondover Iorapuu

Priest describes ‘horrifying’ new attack on Catholics in Nigeria that leaves at least 11 dead

Jan 20, 2023 / 18:15 pm

Alleged Fulani herdsmen on Jan. 19 attacked a village near Makurdi, the capital of Nigeria’s Benue State.

Fr. Marcel Uwineza was only 14 years old when he witnessed the painful experience of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He saw his father, mother, two brothers, and a sister murdered during the civil war between the Tutsis and Hutus. Sister Olga Massango

Rwandan priest forgives his family’s killer: ‘We shared a drink and we were shedding tears’

Jan 17, 2023 / 14:00 pm

Father Uwineza said he was “invaded by something higher than him. It’s something we can’t forgive on our own. ... We’re empowered by God.”

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Dozens still in captivity after Christmas Day attack in Nigeria, Catholic priest says

Jan 11, 2023 / 16:45 pm

On Christmas Day 2022, militant Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists attacked Angwan Aku village, reportedly killing one person and abducting 53 others.

Pope Benedict XVI EWTN Media

Catholic bishops in Africa recall ‘great self-sacrifice’ of Pope Benedict XVI

Jan 4, 2023 / 13:15 pm

Writing on behalf of Catholic bishops in Africa, Congolese Cardinal Ambongo said Benedict XVI invited Africa to “trust in itself in order to stand up with dignity.”

Altar of St. Francis Xavier Owo Catholic Parish of Ondo Diocese, Nigeria, where dozens were slain in a massacre on June 5, 2022. Courtesy of ACN

Bishop: ‘Nigeria is waiting’ for justice in Pentecost Sunday church massacre

Dec 9, 2022 / 12:05 pm

Six months have passed since 39 Catholic worshipers were slain and dozens injured in a June 5 attack on a Catholic church in Owo, Nigeria.

Five priests, a nun, and three lay people were abducted Sept. 16, 2022, after gunmen attacked their parish in Mamfe Diocese, Cameroon. Credit: Mamfe Diocese

Priests abducted in Cameroon last month plead for release in new video

Oct 19, 2022 / 16:00 pm

In the video circulated Oct. 19, one of the abductees provides updates about their welfare and pleads with their bishop to help in their release.

Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim of Eritrea's Segheneity Eparchy InfoVaticana

Source confirms arrest of Catholic bishop, two priests in Eritrea

Oct 18, 2022 / 17:00 pm

The members of the clergy are being accused of highlighting violations of human rights in Eritrea in their homilies, the source said.

Pope Francis greets South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir at the Vatican on March 16, 2019. Vatican Media.

Pope Francis’ DR Congo and South Sudan itinerary unveiled

May 30, 2022 / 02:17 am

Pope Francis will visit the African nations on July 2-7.

Sister Suellen Tennyson, a member of the Congregation of the Marianites of Holy Cross, who was abducted in Burkina Faso April 4, 2022. Diocese of Kaya.

American nun abducted in Burkina Faso

Apr 5, 2022 / 13:08 pm

Prayers are being sought for the safe release of Sister Suellen Tennyson, 83, an American Catholic nun who was reportedly kidnapped in Burkina Faso the night of April 4.