Archbishop Andrew Nkea issues uncompromising instructions as abductions deepen insecurity in Ndop
The Archdiocese of Bamenda has taken an unprecedented public stand against the growing wave of abductions targeting clergy, declaring a firm three-step response if the kidnapped Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University in Ndop Rev. Fr. John Berinyuy Tatah, is not released.
During Masses marking the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday 23 November 2025, a circular from Archbishop Andrew Nkea was read in all parishes, outlining the events that led to the latest crisis and the measures the Church intends to enforce.
Priest leading Feast of Christ the King procession
According to the Archbishop’s communication, Rev. Fr. John Berinyuy and others were seized between 15-18 November by armed men in Baba One who identified themselves as separatist fighters. A follow-up delegation of four priests and a layman travelled to negotiate their release on 18 November, but they too were detained. The captors freed five of them two days later but continued holding Father John and demanded ransom. The Archdiocese restated its policy that it does not pay ransom.
With Rev. Fr. John Berinyuy still in captivity as of Sunday, the Archbishop announced a phased response. Effective immediately, all parishes are to pray the Prayer of Saint Michael after Communion at every Mass until he is freed. If the priest is not released by Wednesday, all clergy and religious working in Ndop Deanery are to close churches, schools and Catholic institutions, remove the Blessed Sacrament, and leave the deanery for their safety. Should the kidnapping persist beyond Friday, the Archbishop stated that he, together with priests, religious and lay faithful, will go to Baba One to recover Father John Berinyuy or remain there until he is released.
The letter decried what the Archbishop described as persistent suffering caused by repeated kidnappings, torture and violence against priests and lay people. He called on armed groups to end the practice and urged security forces to act with professionalism and refrain from extortion or abuse.
He further appealed to all parties involved in the nearly nine-year conflict to commit to genuine dialogue, saying the people of the North West and South West regions deserve to live and work in peace.
The circular ended with a prayerful appeal to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the restoration of peace in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda.
The solemnity celebrates the kingship of Christ, a reminder to Christians that truth, justice and peace ultimately belong to God alone. By choosing this day to announce a firm line against the kidnapping of clergy and the wider torment of local communities, Archbishop Andrew Nkea set the crisis against a spiritual backdrop. The feast calls believers to recognise Christ as the only true authority, and in doing so challenges all forms of oppression, coercion and fear. His call to prayer, unity and moral courage mirrored the feast’s central theme: that evil cannot have the final word, and that the dignity of God’s people must be defended even in the face of intimidation.
Years of insecurity have strained daily life across Ndop and the wider Archdiocese, but the abduction of priests strikes at the heart of a community that relies on the Church for education, health care and pastoral support. Many residents view priests not only as spiritual leaders but also as some of the few stable figures left in an unsettled environment. Their disappearance deepens fear, disrupts parish life and weakens essential services, especially in rural areas where the Church often fills gaps left by weakened public institutions.
The Archbishop’s firm stance reflects growing frustration among ordinary families, traders, farmers and pupils who feel the weight of a crisis that shows little sign of easing. By openly challenging both armed groups and security forces, the Archdiocese has voiced concerns shared quietly in many homesindicating that people are tired, overstretched and longing for a return to calm. The call to collective prayer and potential mass mobilisation is already stirring a sense of unity, giving many the feeling that the community is no longer suffering in silence.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Online
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