Suspected members of ISWAP-Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly kidnapped a Catholic Priest with the Dioceses of Maiduguri, Reverend Fr. Elijah Juma Wada.
It was gathered that Rev. Juma Wada was abducted on Damboa-Maiduguri Road last Wednesday.
He was said to be travelling from Buma Parish in Shani to Damaturu for the 10th anniversary thanksgiving Mass of his friend, Rev. Fr Yakubu Inda Philibus at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Damaturu.
A Facebook user, Manasseh Comfort Dooshima also confirmed the incident.
“Please, My dear Facebook friends let’s pray for the release of this Man of God by name Rev .Fr Elijah Juma Wada who was kidnapped by Boko Haram in Borno State. He is a Catholic priest with the diocese of Maiduguri. God have mercy on your servant,” she said.
Recall that Boko Haram had in December 2020, kidnapped Bulus Yakura, a pastor of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) after the insurgents attacked Pemi village, Chibok.
Also, in January 2020, Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Michika LGA of Adamawa was kidnapped and killed by the insurgents.
Meanwhile, the Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawiy-led Interim Council of the ISWAP-Boko Haram terrorists’ group has reshuffled the leadership and structures of the extremist sect.
It was gathered that the restructuring which was directed by ISIS Headquarters became necessary after the killing of some commanders by the Nigeria militray.
After the killing of some prominent terrorists’ commanders, PRNigeria gathered that the Interim Council held an emergency meeting which was attended by Wali (Leaders), Qa’ids (Chiefs), Commanders and all other structures of both ISWAP and Boko Haram.
Abbah Gana aka Ba-Lawan is reappointed as the new Leader of ISWAP, six months after his removal by the ISWAP Shura Council for losing the confidence of most of his loyalists and top commanders.
With the death of Abubakar Shekau and the realignment of various factions, the Al-Barnawiy-led Committee reinstated Ba-Lawan to lead what they termed as ISIS Islamic Caliphate of Africa (Wilaya of Africa), covering parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News