Fra Francis U. Ezeh OFM Cap (@FrCescoofmcap) / X
CV NEWS FEED // Two Catholic nuns that were recently kidnapped in Nigeria have been safely released.
Sr. Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Sr. Grace Mariette Okoli were freed unconditionally and are reportedly in good health, according to a Jan. 13 news release from the nuns’ order, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Sisters were kidnapped on the evening of Jan. 7, CatholicVote reported. The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown, although Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) said that it is likely that the kidnappers are “local armed criminal gangs” that “seek financial gain through ransoms.”
“We thank God and thank you all for your prayers and support through these rough and uncertain days,” the news release said. “May God forever be blessed through Mary our Mother.”
Nigeria now ranks as the deadliest country in the world for Christians, with almost 10,000 killed between 2022-2024. Christians in the West African country have faced ongoing persecution for years, with little meaningful action taken by either the country’s federal government or foreign powers to address the issue.
>> Islamist Fulani terrorists continue to kidnap, torture, kill Christians in Nigeria <<
