TANZANIA: Tanzanian Seminarian, Priest Kidnapped in Nigeria Released
Sarah Pelaji
Fr. Paul Sanogo and Seminarian Melkiori Dominick Mahinini, who were kidnapped on 3rd August in Nigeria have been released. The kidnappers demanded $70,000 (TSh 170 million) in ransom.
The Missionaries of Africa announced the release of their two members who were kidnapped, noting that the two are in good health despite their “traumatizing experience.”
Announcing their release on August 23, The Provincial Superior of Missionaries of Africa in Ghana and Nigeria Fr. Pam Dennis, said that the freedom of the two is due to the prayers offered during their captivity.
“I inform you with great joy that my two brothers today the 23rd of August 2023, Fr Paul Sanogo from Mali and brother Melchior Mahinini from Tanzania, who were kidnapped on Wednesday the 2nd of August 2023 in our community in Gyedna, Minna Diocese in Nigeria have been freed,” Fr. Pam said.
They are both fine, alive and healthy despite the traumatizing experience they went through in the hands of the captivity for the last 3 weeks,” he said.
Tanzania’s ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Benson Bana officially confirmed their release while appreciating the diplomatic channels and cooperation between the two countries who played a role in their safe release.
He informed Tanzanians through AZAM TV that the two missionaries are alive but they are under medical care to confirm their health status for they experienced trauma.
“After confirming their health, we shall make sure the Seminarian goes back home to Tanzania to see his Parents and take a little break for his mental health.
It is also necessary for him to meet his parents in Tanzania to unite with them for we believe it will give them psychological relief, after experiencing the mental trauma of losing their son for three weeks,” Dr Bana said.
Bishop Joseph Mlola of Kigoma Catholic Diocese released a statement upon hearing the news of the release, while thanking all the Tanzanians for their prayer and moral support.
He appreciated the Government of Tanzania and the Nigerian embassy in Tanzania for their efforts to ensure the two missionaries are released.
He thanked the parents and family of the seminarian in Kigoma Diocese, Dominic Merikiory Mahinini, for their patience and prayers during the captivity of their son.
“In a special way I thank the media in Tanzania for their endless support of being the voice of the two missionaries in all three weeks keeping the story alive and becoming the voice of the voiceless,” he said.
The Parents of Seminarian Melkiori Dominick Mahinini in Kigoma Diocese Tanzania have expressed their gratitude to God for freeing their son.
The father of the seminarian, Dominiki Mahinini, thanked the diplomatic efforts of Tanzania and Nigeria which ensured their son and a priest were released.
The father, a resident of Masanza street, Kabanga ward, Kasulu district, thanked the Catholic Church for the prayers and moral support during all time until their son is found.
They expressed their gratitude to the embassy of Tanzania in Nigera seeing it important to send back their son to them so as to make a new unity and thank God together as a family.
“We shall encourage him to continue serving God as a missionary to adhere to God’s plans,” the Father said.
Mahinini said Melkiori, the fifth of his nine children, had a call to serve God since he was young, that made him as a parent support him to fulfill his dreams, including sending him to get education in seminary schools.
