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

The Catholic bishops in Nigeria’s Onitsha ecclesiastical province have condemned recent attacks in Benue state that reportedly resulted in the death of some 200 people and called for fasting and prayer in honor of the victims. Credit: Nigeria Catholic Network

Nigeria bishops call for prayer, fasting for Benue attack victims

Jun 20, 2025 / 13:41 pm

In a statement issued June 18, the Nigerian bishops denounced the “almost daily bloodshed” in the West African nation, including the recent killing of civilians.

Delegates at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 17, 2025. Credit: ACI Africa

Kenya hosts landmark summit on religious freedom in Africa

Jun 18, 2025 / 09:46 am

Regional and global experts as well as proponents of religious freedom gathered June 17 for the first International Religious Freedom Summit hosted in Africa.

Seven members of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in Nigeria’s Enugu state died May 3, 2025, a result of a car accident. Six others sustained injuries and are being treated. Credit: ACI Africa

7 Franciscan Capuchins in Nigeria die in car accident, leadership appeals for prayer

May 10, 2025 / 09:00 am

In 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.

At least 33 people have been reported dead and thousands displaced following April 5-6, 2025, flooding that cut access to over half of the Congolese capital of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Credit: Catholic Radio Elikya/Arsene/Radio Okapi

Congolese bishops express ‘spiritual closeness’ with victims of deadly floods in Kinshasa

Apr 13, 2025 / 07:00 am

Bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo expressed their solidarity with victims of the recent floods and landslides that struck the capital city of Kinshasa.

Andrew Peter (left), a seminarian, and Father Philip Ekweli (right) were abducted March 3, 2025, from a parish rectory in Nigeria’s Docese of Auchi. Andrew Peter was murdred, though Ekweli was released and is receiving medical attention. Credit: Catholic Diocese of Auchi

Abducted seminarian murdered in Nigeria; priest released after 10 days in captivity

Mar 18, 2025 / 06:00 am

A 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.

An African nun prays the rosary. On Jan. 7, 2025, two religious sisters were kidnapped in the Archdiocese of Onitsha in Nigeria. Credit: Diego Cervo/Shutterstock

Appeal for ‘fervent prayers’ issued for religious sisters kidnapped in southeastern Nigeria

Jan 10, 2025 / 13:05 pm

IHM Secretary General in Nigeria Sister Maria Sobenna Ikeotuonye announced the abduction of Sisters Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette Okoli.

Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo was manager of the respective schools of nursing, midwifery, and medical laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ihiala in Nigeria. The priest, who was ordained in 2015, was reportedly murdered on Dec. 26, 2024. Credit: Diocese of Nnewi

Catholic priest in Nigeria murdered by ‘unidentified assailants’

Jan 2, 2025 / 13:25 pm

After the death of Nigerian priest Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo the day after Christmas, the diocese appealed for prayers “for his eternal joy.”

The late Monsignor Thomas Oleghe, the oldest priest in Nigeria, who died on the feast of Christ the King, Nov. 24, 2024, at the age of 104. Credit: Diocese of Auchi

Oldest Catholic priest in Nigeria dies at 104

Nov 26, 2024 / 11:19 am

Father Thomas Oleghe, the oldest priest in Nigeria, has passed away at the age of 104.

Sister Francisca Ngozi Uti on Nov. 14, 2024, was named the 2024 Opus Prize laureate, which comes with a $1.2 million award recognizing transformative humanitarian work. Credit: Santa Clara University

Nigerian Catholic religious sister wins $1.2 million Opus Prize

Nov 18, 2024 / 11:40 am

Sister 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 Francis Arinze during the centenary celebrations of Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Rome in November 2024. Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

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.

Father Thomas Oyode, the rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi was abducted on Oct. 27, 2024, and regained his freedom after 10 days. Credit: Diocese of Auchi

Rector of minor seminary in Nigeria released after 10-day captivity

Nov 7, 2024 / 15:30 pm

Father Thomas Oyode, the rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi who was abducted Oct. 27, has been freed.

Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele of the Goma Diocese presides over the Oct. 1, 2024, funeral Mass for Edmond Bahati Mbarushimana, a Catholic journalist in the Democratic Republic of Congo who was murdered Sept. 27. Credit: Kivunyota

Catholic journalist murdered in Democratic Republic of Congo eulogized as ‘man of peace’

Oct 4, 2024 / 14:45 pm

Edmond Bahati Mbarushimana, a journalist for Radio Maria Goma, was hailed as “a faithful servant, committed and conscientious in everything he did.”

Worshippers attend a mass at Ouagadougou's Catholic cathedral on June 12, 2022, in Burkina Faso. The country has been grappling with Islamist terrorism since 2015 and Christian communities live in fear of furhter attacks. Credit: OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images

Catholic communities in Burkina Faso ‘constantly living in fear’ 

Sep 5, 2024 / 06:00 am

Two Catholic priests serving in Burkina Faso have spoken about the threats that terrorist groups pose to Christians in the country.

Cardinal Peter Turkson delivers the inaugural lecture at the opening of the 2024/2025 academic year of the Nairobi-based Hekima University College (HUC) on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. Credit: ACI Africa

Cardinal Turkson explores evolution of power in Church, society in Kenya college lecture

Aug 23, 2024 / 05:30 am

Ghanaian-born Cardinal Peter Turkson gave a lecture to open the new school year at the Nairobi, Kenya-based Hekima University College.

Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). The bishops released a statement Aug. 15, 2024, the solemnity of the Assumption, condemning abuses during Mass and urging priests to take action. Credit: Abuja Archdiocese

Catholic bishops in Nigeria condemn liturgical abuses, call for immediate reforms

Aug 19, 2024 / 12:45 pm

Bishops expressed concern about a rising trend of deviations from established liturgical norms, warning that such practices are a source of scandal.

In his remarks at the ordination of 23 new priests, Bishop Godfrey Igwebuike Onah expressed gratitude and joy for the growing number of priests serving in his Episcopal See in Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Nsukka on Aug. 10, 2024. Credit: Diocese of Nsukka

Number of Catholic priests for Nigerian diocese surpasses 400 with 23 new ordinations

Aug 13, 2024 / 18:58 pm

The number of Catholic priests serving Nigeria’s Diocese of Nsukka has surpassed 400 following the ordination of 23 new priests on Aug. 10.

Members of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) during a July 4, 2024, press conference. Credit: AMECEA

Bishops in East Africa commit to creating ‘safe, nurturing church environment’ for minors

Jul 8, 2024 / 07:00 am

In a statement following their July 1–4 meeting on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, the bishops said they are “deeply saddened by the pain caused by abuse.”

The president of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Mulla, reads a message from SCBC members on June 29, 2024. Credit: Catholic Radio Network (CRN)

Catholic bishops in Sudan: ‘Fabric of Sudanese society has been torn apart’

Jul 2, 2024 / 13:00 pm

Members of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference released a statement following their June 27–29 meeting expressing alarm about the country’s civil war.

Father Gabriel Ukeh was kidnapped from Nigeria's Archdiocese of Kaduna on June 9, 2024. Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna

Nigeria archdiocese appeals for prayers for priest abducted from parish rectory

Jun 10, 2024 / 17:00 pm

The Archdiocese of Kaduna is appealing for the “urgent and safe release” of Father Gabriel Ukeh, who was abducted from his parish rectory on June 9.

Archbishop Hubertus van Megen celebrates the episcopal consecration of Father John Kiplimo Lelei as auxiliary bishop of Kenya’s Diocese of Eldoret on May 25, 2024. Credit: Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya

Nuncio in Kenya: Church in Europe is losing ‘its inner compass’

May 29, 2024 / 16:00 pm

Archbishop Hubertus van Megen recently highlighted some of the weaknesses of the Church in Europe, which he said reflect an orientation toward secularism.