The Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, said the recently arrested kidnapper of two Catholic priests, Taledo Damian, is not a mass server or a cleric within the diocese.
In a viral video seen by LEADERSHIP, Bishop Mamza clarified that the suspect was merely a church member and did not hold any official role as a mass server or cleric.
LEADERSHIP investigation showed that the two abducted priests, Rev. Father Mathew David Dusami of Yola Catholic Diocese and Rev. Father Abraham Samman of Jalingo Diocese, were kidnapped on February 22, 2025, at the residence of Father Dusami in Gwaida Malam, a suburb of Numan town.
Bishop Mamza emphasised the need to set the record straight and protect the integrity of the church’s clerics and mass servers.
He explained that misinformation surrounding the identity of the alleged kidnapper could harm the reputation of those who diligently serve the church in various capacities.
According to him, „I want to make it clear that the kidnapper is not a mass server, nor is he a cleric. He is simply a member of the church. There has been a lot of misinformation about his identity, and it is important to correct this.“
The Bishop also stressed the significance of the clarification, noting that mass servers play a crucial role in church activities and that their reputation should not be unfairly tarnished by misinformation.
Bishop Mamza took the opportunity to commend the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilante operatives for their dedication and professionalism in rescuing the two abducted priests.
The bishop further revealed that the DSS and vigilante operatives worked tirelessly from the moment the priests were kidnapped and that it was their coordinated effort that led to the breakthrough in the case.
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