THE Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, has refuted claims that Taledo Damian, the suspected kidnapper of two Catholic priests, was a mass server or cleric within the diocese.
Speaking at a press conference in Yola, Bishop Mamza clarified that while the suspect was a church member, he did not hold any official role.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that the kidnapper is not a mass server, nor is he a cleric. There has been a lot of misinformation about his identity, and it is important to correct this,” he stated.
He emphasized the need to protect the reputation of clergy members and mass servers from false accusations.
Bishop Mamza commended security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilante operatives, for their swift efforts in rescuing the abducted priests — Rev. Father Mathew David Dusami (Yola Diocese) and Rev. Father Abraham Samman (Jalingo Diocese) — who were kidnapped on 22 February 2025.
According to the bishop, security forces stormed the captors’ hideout and successfully rescued the priests. The suspect initially escaped but later crashed while fleeing on a motorcycle.
“He attempted to surrender to the DSS but somehow ended up in Police custody,” Bishop Mamza explained.
Following their rescue, the priests underwent medical examinations and were confirmed to be in stable condition. All evidence recovered from the suspect is now in DSS custody.
The bishop reaffirmed the church’s commitment to working with security agencies to safeguard clergy members and worshippers.
Eighteen-Eleven Media