Catholic Priest Abducted in Restive North-West Region, Released 24 hours Later

A Catholic priest and university administrator has been abducted in Cameroon’s North-West Region, an area grappling with prolonged insecurity linked to the country’s Anglophone crisis.

Rev. Father Killian Ndonwei, Registrar of Pax Catholic University Institute in Ndop and former principal of Saint Paul’s College, Bamenda, was kidnapped on Friday, January 9, 2026, in Bamessing, a locality within the Ndop area, according to local and church sources.

The priest was reportedly seized by alleged armed men under circumstances that remain unclear. His vehicle was later found parked by the roadside in Bamessing, raising alarm among residents and prompting concerns about his safety.

He was reportedly set free on January 10. Since his abduction, no group claimed responsibility, and there was no official communication from the Roman Catholic Church.

Kidnappings for ransom and targeted abductions have become increasingly common in parts of Cameroon’s English-speaking North-West and South-West regions, where clashes between security forces and armed separatist groups have persisted since 2017. Clergy, educators and locals have at times been caught up in the violence, either as direct targets or collateral victims of the wider conflict.

The Catholic Church, which runs numerous schools and social institutions across the region, has repeatedly called for restraint, dialogue and the protection of civilians amid the ongoing unrest.

MMI News