A Tanzanian seminarian who was kidnapped by armed gunmen in Nigeria has been released after three weeks of captivity.
The kidnappers demanded $70,000 (Sh170 million) in ransom for their release.
Mahinini, who was sent to Nigeria by the Missionaries of Africa to study, comes from Kabanga Parish in Kigoma Region. He told The Citizen that his ordeal was a period of “blood, sweat and tears”.
He said he was taken to a dense forest where he was interrogated and threatened by the kidnappers, who did not know that he was a missionary. He said he suffered injuries on his toes and legs when he jumped out of a window to escape the gunmen .
The Tanzania High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Benson Bana, confirmed that Mahinini and Sanogo were safely freed on August 23, 2023, following efforts made by the Tanzanian and Nigerian governments and the Catholic Church in both countries.
He said that incidents of abduction are common in Nigeria and that they took precautionary measures to ensure that the duo were not hurt.
The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) president, Bishop Gervas Nyaisonga, said the Church was disappointed with the cruel abduction incident and insisted on the importance of respecting human rights.
He said the Church prayed for the abductees to be rescued. The Kigoma Catholic Diocese Bishop Joseph Mlola also urged the faithful to pray for Mahinini and Sanogo’s recovery and peace.
Mahinini’s father, Dominick Mahinini, thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and the Church for their collaboration to ensure his son’s freedom. He said he received reports of his son’s abduction on August 3 and was relieved to hear that he was safe.
