In Nigeria, the kidnappers of Catholic priests have been sentenced to death

The High Court of Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria has sentenced three men to the death penalty for organizing the kidnapping of two Catholic clergymen. One of the key accomplices in the crime turned out to be a parish altar server who acted as a lookout.

According to the Christian Daily, Judge Christopher Dominic Mapeo found Taledo Demiel, Namomai Medana, and Mikail Yusuf guilty of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and negotiating a ransom. The criminals were apprehended by State Security Service agents just as they were attempting to collect the money.

Priests Matthew Dutsemi and Abraham Sauman were abducted on February 22, 2025, from St. Anne’s Church in the village of Gveda-Mallama. They were held captive in the home of one of the convicted men for 15 days. As a result of a successful special operation, the hostages were freed without a ransom being paid.

The case attracted particular attention due to the fact that one of the convicted men, Taledo Demiel, had served as an altar boy at the same parish where the kidnapped priests ministered. The local clergy expressed deep concern that people from the immediate church community are increasingly becoming informants for criminal gangs. It is noteworthy that this harsh sentence was handed down despite the Vatican’s official position, which advocates for the complete abolition of the death penalty at the international level.

As a reminder, at least 15 civilians were killed as a result of a series of coordinated attacks carried out by Fulani militants in Plateau State, Nigeria, between September 21 and 25, 2026. Seven Christian settlements in Barkin Ladi District were targeted in the attacks.