SaharaReporters learnt that both priests were said to be in stable condition and responding to treatment.
Bandits have attacked two Catholic priests at the Parish House of St. Rita Catholic Church, Unity Estate, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, near Abuja.
SaharaReporters gathered that the attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, when armed assailants stormed the parish residence around 2:30 a.m., attacking the priests and leaving them injured, while the Parish Priest narrowly escaped unharmed.
According to Vanguard, the victims were identified as Rev. Fr. Comas Baye, the priest in residence and a Cadet of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and Rev. Fr. Chris Pever, a visiting priest and former Assistant Priest of the parish.
Fr. Baye was said to have suffered complications, including a partial stroke.
However, both priests were immediately rushed to Nativity Catholic Hospital, Jikwoyi, in Abuja, where they received urgent medical care.
Meanwhile, Fr. Pever sustained severe injuries, including a fracture to his left arm, and successfully underwent a surgical implant procedure at the hospital.
SaharaReporters learnt that both priests were said to be in stable condition and responding to treatment.
Reacting to the incident, the Abuja Grand Commandery of the Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International condemned the attack, describing it as a vicious assault on innocent clergy and a disturbing reflection of the growing insecurity around Abuja and neighbouring states.
The condemnation is contained in a statement signed by the Grand President, Brigadier General Francis Ulonna Njoku, and the Grand Secretary, Colonel Etta Peters.
The statement said, “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous, barbaric, and reprehensible attack on Catholic priests at the Parish House of St. Rita Catholic Church, Unity Estate, Mararaba, Nasarawa State."
The Knights warned that the incident was not an isolated case but part of a troubling pattern of attacks on places of worship and ministers of faith within the FCT and adjoining states.
“This vicious assault is not only a direct attack on innocent clergy but also a grave affront to the sanctity of human life, religious institutions, and the moral fabric of our society,” it said.
They called on relevant security agencies to urgently investigate the attack, apprehend the perpetrators, and ensure they are brought to justice without delay.
The Order also urged governments at all levels to strengthen security around religious institutions and communities, warning against a recurrence of tragedies such as the Niger State school kidnapping and similar acts of terror.
They also expressed solidarity with the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, the clergy, and the faithful of St. Rita Catholic Church, while offering prayers for the healing of the injured priests and lasting peace in the affected communities.