Archdiocese stands by its earlier ultimatum; social media splits over Archbishop Nkea’s hard line
Church personnel in Ndop Deanery are likely to begin withdrawing from their parishes and institutions today, 26 November, after the deadline set by Archbishop Andrew Nkea passed without the release of Rev. Fr. John Berinyuy Tatah despite even calls from Pope leo XIV. The move comes as the Archdiocese of Bamenda maintains silence since issuing its forceful circular on Sunday, leaving the faithful expecting that the steps outlined in the Archbishop’s letter remain fully in place.
The expected withdrawal follows a sequence of events that began on 15 November, when Father John and his assistant were abducted in Baba One by armed men who identified themselves as separatist fighters. A rescue delegation of four priests and a layman was also detained days later before five of them were released. The captors have continued to hold Rev. Fr. John and demanded ransom. The Church has insisted it does not pay ransom under any circumstances.
In his circular read across all parishes on the Feast of Christ the King, Archbishop Nkea directed that, if the priest was not freed by today, all clergy and religious personnel in Ndop Deanery should close churches, schools and Catholic establishments and leave the area until further notice. Priests were instructed to remove the Blessed Sacrament and leave tabernacles open, citing the inability of the community to guarantee their safety.
The Archbishop has not issued any follow-up communication, but the absence of clarification has been widely interpreted as confirmation that the original directive stands.
The situation has sparked lively and divided reactions on social media. Many faithful have praised the Archbishop for taking a firm stand in a climate of escalating violence against priests, sisters and lay workers. Supporters say the Church has reached a breaking point after years of kidnappings, threats and extortion, and argue that withdrawing personnel signals that religious workers cannot continue to serve in areas where their safety is repeatedly compromised.
Others have criticised the decision, warning that closing parishes and Catholic institutions could leave already vulnerable communities without pastoral care, education or social support. Some fear the move may inflame tensions or expose abandoned facilities to vandalism.
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Hilltopvoices has it on good authority that negotiations for his release were advancing before social media outings complicated the issues.
Despite the debate, the fate of Rev. Fr John remains central. With 28 November set as the next critical date, the Archbishop’s letter states that he, together with priests, religious personnel and lay faithful, will travel to Baba One if the priest is still in captivity. The planned march is intended to demand his release directly.
The crisis continues against a backdrop of deep fatigue in the North West, where families have endured nearly nine years of conflict, repeated kidnappings and persistent insecurity.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Online
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