Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of the Bamenda Archdiocese has reiterated the stand of the Catholic Church never to pay ransoms to kidnappers of priests and lay preachers. He reiterated the stand of the church in a letter dated Sunday, November 23, 2025. The letter comes on the heels of the recent kidnapping of Priests in Ndop, in the Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region.
According to Catholic Officials, Father John Berinyuy Tatah, the Parish Priest of Babessi and his assistant were abducted in Baba I by Separatist Fighters on November 15, 2025 while they were returning from Ndop after attending the inauguration ceremony of the PAX University Institute in Ndop. The press release from Archbishop Nkea adds that on November 18, four other priests and a lay preacher went searching for the two kidnapped priests and to have discussions with the kidnappers in a bid to release those abducted. All the seven people were instead detained by the gunmen. The release reveals that on November 20, five of the six detained priests were released alongside the lay preacher, but Father John Berinyuy Tatah held back and ransom being demanded by the Separatist Fighters before he is released.
However, Archbishop Nkea has reiterated and affirmed that the church never gives ransoms. In the meantime, he has tasked Christians to continue saying the Prayer of St. Michael the Archangel for the liberation of Fr. John Berinyuy. The release adds that if by Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Fr. John Berinyuy is still in captivity, then all priests, religious personnel from all Catholic Institutions in Ndop should close down and leave the Deanery till further notice. In doing so, the priests should remove the Blessed Sacrament from all Churches, chapels and oratories while leaving the tabernacles open.
Archbishop Nkea intimates in the press release that if by Friday, November, 28, 2025, Fr. John Tatah is not released, the Archbishop, all the priests, religious and members of Christ’s lay faithful of the Archdiocese will go down to Baba I and march to the place where Fr. John is being held, and either bring him back home, or remain there until he is released.
“The frequent kidnapping of our Priests and Mission personnel has pushed us to the wall and we say that this should stop with immediate effect.” Archbishop Nkea writes.
