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| Anger at priest kidnap in Nigeria | Anger at priest kidnap in Nigeria |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria has condemned the kidnapping of a missionary in the oil-producing south. | The Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria has condemned the kidnapping of a missionary in the oil-producing south. |
| The Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev John Onaiyekan, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said the kidnappers had made a "grave mistake". | The Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev John Onaiyekan, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said the kidnappers had made a "grave mistake". |
| Father Pius Kii was seized by unidentified gunmen from the steps of his church in Port Harcourt on Sunday. | Father Pius Kii was seized by unidentified gunmen from the steps of his church in Port Harcourt on Sunday. |
| Many gangs in the Niger Delta make money from kidnapping, extortion and gun-running. | |
| They say they want local people to benefit from the Niger Delta's oil wealth. | |
| Unconfirmed reports from Church sources said militants had demanded a $20,000 (£14,000) ransom for Father Kii. | Unconfirmed reports from Church sources said militants had demanded a $20,000 (£14,000) ransom for Father Kii. |
| 'Fear God' | 'Fear God' |
| "If they can kidnap a priest, then really no-one is safe," Archbishop Onaiyekan said. | "If they can kidnap a priest, then really no-one is safe," Archbishop Onaiyekan said. |
| "They should realise they have made a grave mistake, fear God and release him." | "They should realise they have made a grave mistake, fear God and release him." |
| Father Kii is a member of the Missionary Society of St Paul, a Roman Catholic missionary organisation. | Father Kii is a member of the Missionary Society of St Paul, a Roman Catholic missionary organisation. |
| The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the most visible militant group, said the kidnap was "sacrilege and abomination". | |
| "We will assist in the search as many of our fighters are Catholics and deeply touched by this development," Mend spokesman Jomo Gbomo said in an e-mail to the BBC. | |
| The group has been kidnapping oil workers since 2006. In the past they have "rescued" non-oil worker hostages from other gangs. | The group has been kidnapping oil workers since 2006. In the past they have "rescued" non-oil worker hostages from other gangs. |
| Violence has cut oil production in the Niger Delta by about a fifth. | Violence has cut oil production in the Niger Delta by about a fifth. |