{"id":2411373,"date":"2025-03-08T13:03:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T18:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abducted-priest-found-murdered-on-ash-wednesday\/"},"modified":"2025-03-08T13:04:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T18:04:07","slug":"abducted-priest-found-murdered-on-ash-wednesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abducted-priest-found-murdered-on-ash-wednesday\/","title":{"rendered":"Abducted Priest Found Murdered on Ash Wednesday"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fabducted-priest-found-murdered-on-ash-wednesday%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2411373&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>On Ash Wednesday,\u200b a 45-year-old Catholic priest named Rev. Sylvester Okechukwu was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/caitlyn-jenner-o-j-simpson-told-nicole-brown-ill-kill-you-and-get-away-with-it\/\" title=\"Caitlyn Jenner: O.J. Simpson Told Nicole Brown &#039;I&#039;ll Kill You and Get Away with It&#039;\">found murdered<\/a> in Nigeria, a day \u2064after being abducted from his\u200c home. The Diocese of Kafanchan reported the incident, and Chancellor Rev. Jacob Shanet expressed sorrow over okechukwu&#8217;s untimely death, praising him as \u200ca dedicated servant of God. The \u200dmotive for \u200bthe murder remains \u200bunclear, and no arrests have \u200dbeen made.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Mission in Nigeria \u2064condemned the killing as a senseless act of violence and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/one-person-dead-numerous-wounded-in-arkansas-car-show-shooting\/\" title=\"One Person Dead, Numerous Wounded in Arkansas Car Show Shooting\">expressed condolences<\/a> to \u200dthe priest&#8217;s family and community. The murder\u2064 highlights ongoing \u2063persecution against Christians in \u200cNigeria, a\u2064 country that tops global \u2063lists for Christian casualties. Reports indicate that\u2062 in 2024, Nigeria has seen a\u2064 surge\u200d in attacks on\u200b clergy, with 14 priests kidnapped,\u200b one of whom was killed.<\/p>\n<p>Shanet called for peaceful responses and solidarity \u2062in mourning Okechukwu\u2019s death, urging people not\u200d to take the \u2062law into their own hands. the brutal killing has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blackburn-says-youtube-dinged-channel-at-behest-of-ccp\/\" title=\"Blackburn Says YouTube Dinged Channel at Behest of CCP\">sparked international condemnation<\/a> \u200cand reflects a troubling trend of escalating violence against Christians in \u200cthe region.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A Catholic priest who was abducted from his home on Tuesday was found slain on Ash Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The Diocese of Kafanchan in Nigeria said Rev. Sylvester Okechukwu, 45, was kidnapped at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday and found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/priest-seen-toting-shotgun-deadly-attack-christians-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">murdered<\/a> the next day, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/262591\/nigerian-diocese-pays-tribute-to-priest-who-was-murdered-on-ash-wednesday\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Catholic News Agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is yet to be determined why he was killed,&rdquo; Rev. Jacob Shanet, chancellor of the Kafanchan Diocese, said. No announcement has been made of an arrest.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Father Sylvester was a dedicated servant of God who worked selflessly in the vineyard of the Lord, spreading the message of peace, love, and hope,&rdquo; Shanet said in a statement.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The tragic slaying of a priest in Nigeria this week underscores the large-scale persecution Christians face in that country. Open Doors&rsquo; World Watch List lists Nigeria as the country with the most Christians killed and kidnapped in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration must&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jDAr9GRUNG\">pic.twitter.com\/jDAr9GRUNG<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tony Perkins (@tperkins) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tperkins\/status\/1898079871470850411?\">March 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This untimely and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">brutal loss<\/a> has left us heartbroken and devastated,&rdquo; Shanet said in the statement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;His untimely death has left an indelible void within our diocesan family, and we  in the pain of his passing with his family, friends, and all those who knew and loved him,&rdquo; Shanet said.<\/p>\n<p>Shanet said retribution should be avoided.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No one should take the law into their hands,&rdquo; he stated.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;May we continue to hold one another in prayer and unity during this dark moment,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">U.S. Condemns Killing of Catholic Priest in Kaduna<\/p>\n<p>By: Zagazola Makama <\/p>\n<p>The United States Mission in Nigeria has condemned the brutal killing of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu in Kaduna State, describing it as a senseless act of violence.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement posted on its&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KKtStR8zuA\">pic.twitter.com\/KKtStR8zuA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Zagazola (@ZagazOlaMakama) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ZagazOlaMakama\/status\/1898309696530035016?\">March 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/islamic-bandits-raze-church-property-steadfast-priests-final-act-survives-flames-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Catholic<\/a> clergy have been targeted elsewhere in Nigeria. Three priests who were kidnapped last month are still being held, while one priest who was kidnapped escaped.<\/p>\n<p>The group Aid to the church in Need said 14 priests were kidnapped in 2024, one of whom was murdered. The others were eventually released.<\/p>\n<p>Catholic persecution in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-gunmen-kidnap-15-children-yet-another-school-abduction-northern-nigeria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nigeria<\/a> surged in 2009 amid the rise of Boko Haram.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The U.S. Mission is distressed by the brutal and senseless killing of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu in Kaduna State, Nigeria,&rdquo; the American Embassy in Nigeria said in a statement posted on its <a href=\"https:\/\/ng.usembassy.gov\/u-s-mission-condemns-brutal-killing-of-reverend-father-sylvester-okechukwu-in-kaduna\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We strongly condemn this horrific act of violence,&rdquo; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We extend our deepest condolences to the family, congregation, and community of Father Okechukwu, who have suffered an immeasurable loss. Our thoughts are with them during this time of profound grief. We call on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice,&rdquo; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>According to an April 2023 report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, more than &nbsp;52,250 Christians have been killed in Nigeria over the past 14 years, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/globalchristianrelief.org\/christian-persecution\/countries\/nigeria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Global Christian Relief<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Catholic priest, Rev. Sylvester Okechukwu, 45, was kidnapped from his home on Tuesday night and discovered dead the following day, Ash Wednesday. The Diocese of Kafanchan in Nigeria reported that he was taken around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Rev. Jacob Shanet, chancellor of the diocese, stated that the motive for his murder remains unclear and no arrests have been made. He described Father Sylvester as a devoted servant who spread messages of peace and hope. This incident highlights the ongoing persecution faced by Christians in Nigeria; Open Doors\u2019 World Watch List indicates that Nigeria has the highest number of Christians killed or kidnapped in 2024. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria condemned this violent act and expressed condolences to Father Okechukwu&#8217;s family and community while urging authorities to seek justice for this crime against him and other clergy members who have been targeted recently<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2411374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture-63.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[47216,4349,10635],"class_list":["post-2411373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-abduction","tag-murder","tag-priest"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Picture-63.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2411373"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2411377,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411373\/revisions\/2411377"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2411374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2411373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2411373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2411373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}