Less than 24 hours after his kidnapping, Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Yakubu, a Catholic priest from Kaduna who was taken hostage on Sunday, has been released.
This was revealed on Monday evening by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Uchechowe Okolo, the Chancellor of the Kafanchan Diocese, in a statement made accessible to Kaduna-based journalists.
As he announced the release of his brother, Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Yakubu, who had been kidnapped by armed individuals from the rectory at Holy Trinity Parish in Karku, Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, in the early hours of Sunday, June 11, 2023, he said, "With hearts filled with joy, we raise our voices in a symphony of praises."
Yakubu was discharged on Monday night, June 12, 2023, he added. He expressed gratitude to everyone who had prayed and pleaded for the priest's and other hostages' early release from the hideouts of their captors.
He asked God to accelerate the release of those who were still in the hands of their captors.
He requested all of their priests to kindly celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving,on June 13, 2023, in appreciation of Fr. Jerry Yakubu's prompt release.