Bandits on Thursday night invaded St. Rachael’s Catholic Parish in Fadan Kamantan, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, razing the parish house. In the process, a seminarian, Na’aman Danladi, was burnt to death. Fadan Kamantan is in Southern Kaduna.
It was learnt that while some priests escaped during the incident, Danlami, who was a seminarian, was caught in the inferno. His remains have since been deposited at the mortuary.
The Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Kaduna State Police Command, Mansur Alhassan, confirmed the attack to newsmen, saying, “We are on top of the situation”.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State, Reverend John Hayab, confirmed the incident to the PUNCH on the telephone and condemned the attack on the parish, saying, “It is very sad that killings and this type of evil are still going on”.
In a statement, Hayab also said the attack by the bandits was targeted at the residence of the parish priest, Rev Fr Emmanuel Okolo, who is also the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, and his assistant.
He said the duo narrowly escaped from the attack before the criminals set the entire rectory ablaze, burning to death the seminarian, who was about to complete his training into the Catholic Priesthood.
The CAN chairman said more worrisome was that the attack was by the Kaduna – Kafanchan highway with a military checkpoint not far from the parish.
He stated, “The parish is located at the heart of Kamantan town and the attack was carried out at about 8 pm. This caused us to wonder some more; where is the hope, how much more terrible could the situation get?
“We appreciate the willingness of the present administration to proffer practical, real and lasting solutions to the security challenge in Kaduna State as made visible by the ongoing recruitment of over 7,000 men and women into the Kaduna State Vigilante Services. In the light of sharing in the faith of the perceived goodwill of the present administration in Kaduna State, we invite the Governor of Kaduna State and all relevant stakeholders to immediately swing into action and ensure that those responsible for the Kamatan evil night are apprehended and made to face the law”.
He said it was disappointing that the criminals would operate unchallenged when there were security forces within the area.
He added, “We cannot continue like this, no, it is unacceptable and we all must wake up to our responsibilities”.
Meanwhile, the senator representing Kaduna South, Sunday Katung, has appealed for a one-month military operation in forests in the state.
He said in a statement on Friday, “I unequivocally condemn this horrific terrorist attack that claimed the life of our young seminarian. Such a cowardly and callous attack on our communities must not be allowed to continue”.
He said the resurgence of terrorism on the Kaduna-Kachia Road was a direct affront to the Federal Government and the security agencies, adding, “I appeal to the security agencies to carry out a one-month intensive operation on the forest around Southern Kaduna to degrade the bandits and kidnappers. Anybody found to be aiding and abetting criminality shouldn’t be spared”.
Also, Governor Uba Sani condemned the attack, as he vowed to track the perpetrators and ensure they face the full wrath of the law.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Lawal Shehu, quoted the governor as saying, “I am deeply saddened by the attack on Fadan Kamatan Parish in Zangon Kataf. This act of violence against innocent worshipers is not only an attack on the Catholic community but an attempt to set our people against one another. We will not tolerate such acts of brutality and will go to any length within the law to bring the attackers to book”.
While urging the security agencies to swiftly investigate the incident and ensure that the culprits are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law, the governor offered his condolences to the families of the victims, assuring them of government’s support.
