Prayer appeal after Spanish church attacks

One man was killed in a suspected Islamist terrorist attack on two churches in the southern Spanish city of Algeciras.

The incidents occurred in the churches of San Isidro and Our Lady of Palma on January 25. Spanish media reported the assailant overturned statues and other images while yelling “Allahu akbar” (“God is great”).

Father Antonio Rodrígues Lucena was stabbed in the neck while saying Mass at San Isidro and required emergency surgery.

The assailant then made his way to the nearby Church of Our Lady of Palma, where he attacked the sacristan, Diego Valencia.

Mr Valencia fled outside to the public square where he was killed with a machete. Four others sustained injuries during the attacks.

Priest burnt to death in presbytery

One priest was burned alive and another suffered gunshot wounds after attackers stormed a priests’ house in Nigeria.

Father Isaac Achi died at the parish of St Peter and St Paul, Kafin Koro, Minna Diocese, in Niger State, where the attackers struck in the early hours of the morning, burning the presbytery to the ground.

According to media reports, Father Achi, who reportedly had survived a bomb attack in 2011, managed to contact relatives, who alerted the police, but they arrived too late. Another priest, Father Omeh, was shot trying to escape but Father Achi died as the fire took hold.

The attack took place the same day as Father Michael Olofinlade, of Ibadan Archdiocese, in south Nigeria, was kidnapped.

Last year, four priests were murdered in Nigeria, according to ACN data, and 28 were kidnapped.

More than 7,600 Christians were killed in the country between January 2021 and June 2022.