Reverend James Kantoma, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Plateau State) has been kidnapped by gunmen.
Kantoma doubles as Catholic priest in charge of St Anthony’s Parish, Angware community in the Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Kantoma was said to have been abducted at his house in the community on Sunday night.
A resident of Angware community said “When the gunmen arrived 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 State Chairman of CAN, Polycarp Lubo, also confirmed the abduction of the cleric, describing the incident as sad.
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, when contacted, said that the Command was aware of the incident and had deployed men from the anti-kidnapping unit to the community.
“Our men are already working to ensure that the cleric regains his freedom and apprehend those behind the abduction,” the PPRO added.
The attackers descended on the unsuspecting victims in the early hours of Sunday, June 12, 2022, killing residents and burning houses to the ground.
The incident prompted hundreds of residents to flee the area.
Similarly, over 50 wedding guests were abducted by armed bandits along the Sokoto-Zamfara Highway as they journeyed from the wedding of their colleague in Sokoto State.