Articles by Jude Atemanke
Armed attackers kidnap children from Catholic elementary school in Nigeria
Nov 21, 2025 / 17:20 pmThe Diocese of Kontagora in Nigeria described the Friday kidnapping of children and staff at St. Mary’s Catholic schools as “painful and disturbing.”
Cardinal sounds alarm on ‘unprecedented’ crisis in Sudan, South Sudan
Nov 11, 2025 / 14:56 pmCardinal Stephen Ameyu urged Catholic leaders to strengthen unity and foster nonviolence as the Church responds to the plight of the people in Sudan and South Sudan.
Ethiopia’s Catholic bishops condemn deadly attack on parish, call for government protection
Nov 6, 2025 / 09:00 amThe Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia has strongly condemned attacks in the Oromia region that claimed lives and destroyed property.
2 Nigerian minor seminarians released months after kidnapping, 1 killed in captivity
Nov 5, 2025 / 14:04 pmThe Diocese of Auchi in Nigeria has announced the release of two young seminarians who were abducted in July during an armed attack on a seminary.
Catholic priest appeals for prayers for evangelical missionary kidnapped in Niger
Oct 24, 2025 / 12:32 pmKevin Rideout, an American missionary, was abducted from his home in Niger’s capital, Niamey, by three unidentified armed men suspected to be jihadists.
Vatican halts seminary formation in DR Congo diocese ‘until further notice’
Oct 13, 2025 / 15:12 pmThe Dicastery for Evangelization suspended the formation of seminarians in a diocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing a “difficult ecclesial environment.”
Catholic priest killed in ‘senseless act of violence’ in Nigeria
Sep 23, 2025 / 14:12 pmFather Matthew Eya was shot on Sept. 19 while returning to his parish after a pastoral assignment, according to Diocese of Nsukka in Nigeria.
Gunmen on motorbikes kill 22 at baptism ceremony in Niger amid rising violence
Sep 18, 2025 / 11:54 amMultiple media reports indicate that the Sept. 15 attack happened in a region near Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist groups are active.
Security guard killed, 3 seminarians abducted from Nigerian seminary
Jul 14, 2025 / 14:28 pmIn a statement issued July 11, the director of communications for the Auchi Diocese in Nigeria said the attack involved “several gunmen.”
Nigeria bishops call for prayer, fasting for Benue attack victims
Jun 20, 2025 / 13:41 pmIn a statement issued June 18, the Nigerian bishops denounced the “almost daily bloodshed” in the West African nation, including the recent killing of civilians.
Kenya hosts landmark summit on religious freedom in Africa
Jun 18, 2025 / 09:46 amRegional and global experts as well as proponents of religious freedom gathered June 17 for the first International Religious Freedom Summit hosted in Africa.
7 Franciscan Capuchins in Nigeria die in car accident, leadership appeals for prayer
May 10, 2025 / 09:00 amIn a statement, the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin’s leadership in Nigeria provided details of the car accident that occurred in Nigeria’s Enugu state.
Congolese bishops express ‘spiritual closeness’ with victims of deadly floods in Kinshasa
Apr 13, 2025 / 07:00 amBishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo expressed their solidarity with victims of the recent floods and landslides that struck the capital city of Kinshasa.
Abducted seminarian murdered in Nigeria; priest released after 10 days in captivity
Mar 18, 2025 / 06:00 amA seminarian abducted on March 3 from a parish rectory in the Nigerian Diocese of Auchi was murdered by his abductors, an official of the diocese has confirmed.
Appeal for ‘fervent prayers’ issued for religious sisters kidnapped in southeastern Nigeria
Jan 10, 2025 / 13:05 pmIHM Secretary General in Nigeria Sister Maria Sobenna Ikeotuonye announced the abduction of Sisters Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette Okoli.
Catholic priest in Nigeria murdered by ‘unidentified assailants’
Jan 2, 2025 / 13:25 pmAfter the death of Nigerian priest Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo the day after Christmas, the diocese appealed for prayers “for his eternal joy.”
Oldest Catholic priest in Nigeria dies at 104
Nov 26, 2024 / 11:19 amFather Thomas Oleghe, the oldest priest in Nigeria, has passed away at the age of 104.
Nigerian Catholic religious sister wins $1.2 million Opus Prize
Nov 18, 2024 / 11:40 amSister Francisca Ngozi Uti, the founder and executive director of the Centre for Women Studies and Intervention in Abuja, Nigeria, won he 2024 Opus Prize.
Cardinal Arinze cautions priests against lengthy homilies
Nov 17, 2024 / 07:00 am“A homily well prepared should last around 10 minutes. A university lecture of 45 minutes is for a different setting,” Cardinal Francis Arinze said.
Rector of minor seminary in Nigeria released after 10-day captivity
Nov 7, 2024 / 15:30 pmFather Thomas Oyode, the rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi who was abducted Oct. 27, has been freed.