THE body of a priest abducted in Kaduna State, Nigeria, has been found after his abduction with two church colleagues on 21 March, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.

He was the Revd liya Anto, who was Vice-president of the United Church Of Christ in Nigeria, in Kaduna city, and with him were the President of the Church, Dr Emmanuel Dziggau, and the Revd Yakubu Dzarma. The three men had been travelling to clear a piece of land for the foundation of a seminary.

Mr Anto’s body was discovered on 30 March, in the bush. He had recently undergone an operation and required medication. His two colleagues were released by their captors that evening, and are reported to be now recovering in hospital.

On 29 March, the body of a kidnapped Nigerian soldier, Colonel Samaila Inusa, was also discovered in the bush.

The chief executive of CSW, Mervyn Thomas, said that the abductions pointed to a “worrying breakdown in law and order. We urge the authorities to step up security in the area, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.”