How bandits attacked, razed Kaduna Catholic parish — Rev father

A reverend father at the Catholic Seminary in Kafanchan diocese, Kaduna state, George Barde, has disclosed that about five bandits lost their lives including a parishioner when the terrorists attacked the Seminary and set it ablaze.

It will be recalled that a seminarian, Na’aman Ngofe Stephen, lost his life during the attack and was buried on Tuesday in front of the church at Saint Raphael Fadan Kamantan, Zangon Kataf local government area of the state.

Giving a detailed account of what happened, Reverend Barde noted that contrary to the report that the seminarian died inside the building when it was set ablaze, he said the seminarian died as a result of gunshot wounds.

According to him, the bandits also attacked the priests in the building, Rev. Fathers Emmanuel Okolo and Noah Monday, at the Parish and opened fire on the priests, however, they were both saved by God because they escaped from the building.

He continued, “The mood in the parish was mixed. There was joy for the miracle, which is the survival of the two priests, but sadness at the painful loss of Na’aman.

Barde also said, “The initial assumption was that the deceased got trapped and was burnt to death, but the body was ridden with gunshot wounds, which suggested that the bandits already shot him dead in the early stages of the attack, as they forced their way into the parish.

“His hair and his body parts were intact. I saw his knapsack bag, slippers and sandals in his room, partially burnt laptop and wallet.”

“I was received by Fr Emma himself sitting under the tree, brave and unfazed. Not looking at all like the story of what happened. He showed me and other concerned parishioners round the charred remains of the house, recounting the vivid and bloody details of the attacks.”

“The beautiful Parish house and Church edifice were donated by an illustrious son of the village. The value of loss from the attack, including a young life, a car, a motorcycle, four mass boxes, and every other books, certificates and furniture; three laptops and three television sets are enormous. Overall the loss stands at about N70 million.”

Rev. Father Barde, also recounted the miracles that led to the survival of the two priests.

“Fr Emma did not hide, nor run away from the attackers. Fr Noah hid himself somewhere within the house. The seminarian was in the bathroom where he was probably shot and left to die in the pool of his blood.