Nigeria: Priest killed in attempted robbery

A Nigerian Catholic priest from the diocese of Oyo, Fr Goodwill Onyeka, was killed together with his younger brother, Onyeka Obi, in an attempted robbery.

The attack took place on the evening of Monday, 1 June, on the road to Owo-Oba-Akoko, on the way to Lagos in the state of Ondo, in southern Nigeria.

According to reports sent to Agenzia Fides, bandits tried to stop the vehicle in which the priest was travelling with his brother. The driver attempted a desperate escape, but the bullets fired by the criminals hit the fuel tank, causing it to explode.

The driver managed to escape the flames, although he has suffered serious wounds and burns. Fr Onyeka,and his brother died immediately.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oyo is located in the city of Oyo, in the Ecclesiastical province of Ibadan in Nigeria. It serves approximately 50,000 Roman Catholics in a 18,000 square kilometres (6,900 sq mi), predominately Muslim, area.[ As of 2004, there were 26 parishes served by 47 priests and 43 religious.

Source: Fides/ICN