By Charles Igwe
Catholic priests in Nigeria have increasingly become “soft targets” for kidnappers, according to Fr. Raymond Olusesan Aina, Rector of the National Missionary Seminary of St. Paul. Speaking during the annual St. Paul’s Lecture on January 23, Fr. Aina addressed the misconception that Catholic clergy lead affluent lifestyles, which has contributed to their vulnerability to ransom-seeking criminals.
In an interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Aina explained, “Kidnappers believe that if a Catholic priest is abducted, the Church has no choice but to pay a large sum of money as ransom.” He noted that perceptions of wealth, fueled by the cars priests drive and the Church’s visible infrastructure, have made clergy and Catholic institutions attractive targets.
“Kidnapping has become a business,” Fr. Aina said. “Kidnappers look for soft targets that they believe have money. Catholic priests and institutions are perceived as part of such organizations, making them attractive targets.”
While acknowledging the role of religious hatred, particularly in Nigeria’s northern regions, Fr. Aina highlighted economic factors as a key driver behind the targeting of priests. He lamented the rising violence against Christians, particularly Catholics, many of whom have paid the ultimate price for their faith or are living in dire circumstances due to insurgency.
Fr. Aina also reflected on broader issues confronting the Catholic Church in Nigeria, including the resurgence of secularism and the revival of African traditional religions. He expressed concern over the limited impact of Catholic principles on Nigeria’s political and social landscape, despite the Church’s significant growth.
“With all the growth we’ve experienced, with all the population we have, and the global institution we belong to, the Catholic ethos is not as strongly felt in Nigeria as it is in other faiths, like Islam or Protestantism,” Fr. Aina observed.
He attributed this to a lack of deeper engagement with the Church’s teachings and called for a return to the roots of the Catholic faith. “We need to go back to the roots and explore the depths of the riches of our faith,” he said, urging the Church to prioritize resource mobilization for better catechesis.
Fr. Aina underscored the critical role of the laity in fostering a transformative understanding of the Catholic faith. He noted that clergy make up less than 1% of the Catholic population and emphasized the importance of investing in the education of laypeople.
“In today’s world, it is crucial not to focus solely on the educational or theological development of the clergy,” he said. “Instead, there must be significant investment in educating the laity.”
Fr. Aina urged the Nigerian Church hierarchy and Catholic organizations to develop initiatives that empower laypeople and strengthen Catholic values. This approach, he said, is essential for ensuring the faith’s relevance in a rapidly changing society.
