One of the two Catholic priests kidnapped in Kaduna State on Friday, Rev. Fr. Donatus Cleophas Sulaiman, has escaped from his abductors.

However, the other priest, Rev. Fr. John Mark Cheitnum, has been killed.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan said Cheitnum was killed the same day of his kidnap and his decomposing body had been recovered.

Part of the statement read, “Fr. John Mark who was abducted from the rectory of Christ the King Parish Yadin Garu, Lere L.G.A of Kaduna State, was brutally killed by his abductors on the same day of his abduction; Friday 15th July, 2022. His corpse was later discovered already decomposing on Tuesday 19th July, 2022.

“Until his demise he was the CAN Chairman, Jama’a LGA as well as the Coordinating Chairman of CAN, Southern Kaduna. Fr. was the Dean of Kwoi Deanery, Director of Communications in the Diocese of Kafanchan and the Pastor of St. James Parish Fori, Jama’a LGA, Kaduna State.”

He will be buried on Thursday.