Image Credit: Photo via Catholic Diocese of Lokoja

Catholic Priest Fr. Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro Killed in Kogi State, Nigeria

A Catholic priest killed in Nigeria has once again drawn national attention to the ongoing danger facing clergy in the country’s Middle Belt region. Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lokoja, was found dead along Ajaokuta Road in Kogi State on July 29, 2026. Authorities say unidentified assailants attacked him before his body was discovered by the roadside.

What Happened to the Catholic Priest Killed in Kogi State

According to Kogi State Police Command spokesperson ASP Afusat Oyiza Salihu, officers received a report around 9:30 a.m. that morning describing an unidentified body along Church Road in Ajaokuta. When operatives arrived, they found that the victim had suffered severe machete wounds to the head. Police transported the body to a nearby hospital, where a doctor confirmed his death, before moving it to a mortuary pending autopsy. Officials later identified the victim as Fr. Oyetoro of St. Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, in the Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

A Priest Rooted in His Community

Fr. Oyetoro was born in Egbe, within the Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, and hailed originally from Ayetoro in Ijumu. At the time of his death, he served the community of St. Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, continuing a ministry that connected him closely to the people among whom he grew up. News of his death has since spread through both his home community and the wider Diocese of Lokoja.

The Diocese of Lokoja Responds

The Catholic Diocese of Lokoja confirmed Fr. Oyetoro’s death through an obituary issued by its Chancery Office. The statement described him as a dedicated servant of God who served the Church with commitment and love. Diocesan leaders called on priests, religious, and laity throughout the diocese to pray for the repose of his soul, along with strength and consolation for his family and parishioners. The obituary closed with a traditional prayer asking that he rest in God’s eternal mercy.

Kogi State Government Condemns the Killing

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo directed security agencies across Kogi State to launch a full investigation into the killing. In a statement issued through Commissioner for Information and Communications Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the government described the murder as a painful tragedy that had saddened both officials and residents. Fanwo called the act barbaric and heinous, and he pledged that those responsible would face the full weight of the law. The government also extended condolences to the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Lokoja, and Fr. Oyetoro’s grieving family.

Investigation Still Underway

The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the case remains under active investigation, and it will soon transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further inquiry. As of this writing, no arrests have been announced, and investigators have not established a clear motive for the attack. Police say they will continue mobilizing to search for those responsible.

Part of a Wider Pattern of Violence

This Catholic priest killed in Kogi joins a troubling pattern of violence against Christian clergy across Nigeria in recent years, particularly throughout the country’s Middle Belt states. His death has prompted grief and renewed calls for accountability from Nigerian Catholics and the broader public. Many have expressed frustration over how frequently these attacks occur, alongside the slow pace of justice in similar past cases.

A Developing Story

This remains a developing story, and further updates will follow as more information becomes available from the Diocese of Lokoja and Kogi State authorities. For additional reporting on the case, see Vanguard News’s coverage of the killing and Sahara Reporters’ report on the government’s response.