kidnapping

The Latest

Pope Francis presides over Mass for the Sunday of the Word of God in St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis calls for release of 6 religious sisters taken hostage in Haiti

Jan 21, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Armed gunmen took the religious sisters hostage in Port-au-Prince on Friday during a bus hijacking. Read more

Bishop Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega of Siuna, Nicaragua.

UN calls on Nicaragua to disclose where it is holding abducted Bishop Isidoro Mora

Jan 8, 2024

By Eduardo Berdejo

“We urge the government of Nicaragua to urgently report the whereabouts of Bishop Mora, a victim of forced disappearance for... Read more

Nigerian priest Father Kingsley Eze was kidnapped Nov. 30, 2023, traveling to a sick call.

Parish priest in Nigeria abducted while answering sick call

Dec 5, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

Father Kingsley Eze, parish priest of St. Michael’s Umuekebi Catholic Church in Nigeria’s Imo state, was kidnapped Nov. 30 and... Read more

Father Hans-Joachim Lohre, a German priest who was reportedly kidnapped in November 2022 in Mali, was freed Nov. 26, 2023.

German missionary priest released a year after being abducted in Mali

Nov 27, 2023

By Silas Isenjia

Father Hans-Joachim Lohre, a member of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa who was reportedly kidnapped in Bamako, Mali,... Read more

Luis Manuel Díaz, father of soccer player Luis Díaz (center), along with Francisco Ceballos, bishop of Riohacha (right), and Monsignor Héctor Henao, delegate for Church-state relations, who formed the humanitarian commission in charge of facilitating Díaz's release.

Church in Colombia thanks God for release of kidnapped father of soccer star Luis Díaz

Nov 9, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

Luis Manuel Díaz, father of soccer player Luis Díaz, was held captive for nearly two weeks by the rebel group... Read more

null

Monk killed after kidnapping from Nigerian monastery eulogized as prayerful, easygoing

Oct 25, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

Brother Godwin Eze was kidnapped Oct. 17 alongside two others from the Benedictine monastery in Eruku, Nigeria, located in the... Read more

null

Monk shot, body thrown in river following kidnapping at Nigerian monastery

Oct 24, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

A diocese in Nigeria announced that Brother Godwin Eze, a monk who was kidnapped with two others from a Benedictine... Read more

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.

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

Oct 11, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

The vicar general of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria said five people were abducted Oct. 5 in... Read more

Sister Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti, a missionary who was abducted in Mali in February 2017 and held for nearly five years.

‘Spiritually transformative’: Nun recalls Mali captivity in new religious freedom report

Jun 28, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

The Colombian nun narrated her experience in the foreword of the 2023 edition of the Religious Freedom in the World... Read more

null

Kidnapping scam is targeting Catholic school parents, Santa Fe Archdiocese says

Nov 10, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Local authorities have confirmed that it is a scam and have advised parents and guardians not to pay any money,... Read more

Formerly detained Father Oliver Opara (left) with Ummi Hassan; Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Diocese of Sokoto (not an abductee); Father Stephen Ojapah; and Hassan Fareed Hassan after the four were released from being held captive by terrorists.

Freed Nigerian priest recounts details of his kidnapping by insurgents

Sep 7, 2022

By Douglas Burton

Father Stephen Ojapah had fallen fast asleep late on May 25 after an exhausting day of parish work when two... Read more

Father Stephen Ojapah and Father Oliver Okpara, who were abducted in Nigeria’s Sokoto diocese on May 25, 2022.

Gunmen kidnap 2 Catholic priests in Nigeria

May 26, 2022

By Magdalene Kahiu, Courtney Mares

The priests were abducted after the gunmen broke into a rectory in northwest Nigeria. Read more

Young adults who have helped with the "I Thirst" project at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dedham, Massachusetts from left to right: Emily Rittenour, Matthew Marquet, Monet Souza, Natlia Derosa, Sister Josephine Ngama, Lew Uttaro, Gianfranco Derosa, Elizabeth Balzarini, George Matta, Mark Farah.

This Catholic parish is helping to bring fresh water to a poor Nigerian village

Apr 6, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

“They need water.” These words have inspired a Catholic parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, to undertake an ambitious effort to fund... Read more

The three seminarians (C) who were released Oct. 13, 2021 by their captors, between Fr. Emmanuel Faweh Kazah, rector of the St Albert Institute, and Fr Jonah Yabanad Stephen, rector of Christ the King Major Seminary.

Abducted Nigerian seminarians released

Oct 13, 2021

By Jude Atemanke

The three seminarians who were abducted Monday night from their seminary in Nigeria's Kaduna state have been released, the chancellor... Read more

The entrance to Christ the King Major Seminary in Fayit, Fadan Kagoma, Nigeria, whence three seminarians were abducted Oct. 11, 2021.

Three seminarians abducted in Nigeria

Oct 12, 2021

By CNA Staff

Three seminarians were abducted Monday night from their seminary in Nigeria's Kaduna state. Another six were injured during the attack,... Read more

Pope Francis greets the recently freed Sr. Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti at the Vatican, Oct. 10, 2021.

Pope Francis greets Colombian nun freed 4 years after kidnapping by Islamists in Mali

Oct 10, 2021

By CNA Staff

Sr. Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti was kidnapped in 2017. Read more

Freed: Msgr. Julius Agbortoko Abbor, vicar general of Cameroon’s Mamfe diocese.

Catholic priest in Cameroon freed after three days in captivity

Sep 2, 2021

By CNA Staff

Msgr. Julius Agbortoko Abbor was released without payment of a ransom. Read more

Daughters of the Resurrection walking in Bukavu,  eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Catholic nun abducted on way to the market in DR Congo set free

Jul 17, 2021

By CNA Staff

The nun is “traumatized but physically unharmed.” Read more

Fr. Elijah Juma Wada was abducted on June 30, 2021, in Nigeria’s Maiduguri diocese.

Suspected members of Boko Haram kidnap Catholic priest in Nigeria

Jul 7, 2021

By CNA Staff

Fr. Elijah Juma Wada was abducted on June 30. Read more

A tent camp in Haiti.

Haitian archbishop demands release of abducted Catholics

Apr 14, 2021

The Archbishop of Port-au-Prince has called for the release of 10 people who were kidnapped in Haiti on Sunday and... Read more