A well-known catholic priest in Nigeria has been abducted at gunpoint on his way to a prayer ministry.

Fr Basil Gbuzuo was captured along Eke Nkpor in Ogidi, Idemili North in the South-Central part of the country.

So far, his kidnappers have not contacted his church with any ransom demands according to a statement by the Onitsha Archdiocese. Fr Basil is the fourth cleric to be captured in five months.

Three other hostages taken earlier in the year– two Claretian missionaries and a parish priest from Benin City Archdiocese – have already been released. Though three other priests kidnapped in the country – one in 2019 and two in 2022 – are still missing.

Aid to the Church in Need, a catholic charity which supports persecuted and suffering Christians worldwide, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Fr Basil and has demanded the government step up security and protection of Christians in the African nation.