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Catholic priest leaves priesthood, weds Kenyan woman after 12 years in Kenya
Catholic priest leaves priesthood, weds Kenyan woman after 12 years in Kenya
Italian-born former Catholic priest Sandro Ferretto has left the Catholic priesthood and married his Kenyan partner, Sharon Jepng’ok, after spending about 12 years serving as a missionary in Baringo County, Kenya.
Ferretto, 55, married Jepng’ok on September 6, 2026, at Seretion Village in Kasiela, Baringo South, in a traditional Koito wedding ceremony conducted in accordance with Kalenjin customs.
The marriage has attracted significant attention after videos and photographs from the ceremony, including footage of Ferretto dancing with his bride, circulated widely on social media.
Ferretto previously served as a Catholic parish priest in Kasiela and Mochongoi, where he reportedly became closely connected with residents during his years of pastoral and missionary work.
According to reports, the Italian-born cleric arrived in Kenya in 2008 after being ordained for the Diocese of Padua in Italy. He subsequently served under the Diocese of Nyahururu, working in communities across Baringo County.
During his years in Kenya, Ferretto was involved in pastoral activities and community programmes and became a familiar figure among residents, many of whom knew him as Father Sandro.
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It was during his missionary service in Baringo that Ferretto reportedly met Sharon Jepng’ok, a Kenyan woman from the area. Their relationship later developed, eventually leading to his decision to leave active priestly ministry and pursue a different path in his personal life.
Ferretto returned to Italy in December 2020, where he later took up a pastoral assignment in Saletto, Borgo Veneto. By 2023, reports indicated that he had stepped away from his pastoral responsibilities and taken time for personal reflection.
He subsequently returned to Kenya, where he reunited with Jepng’ok and eventually formalised their relationship through marriage.
The couple’s wedding was marked by a Koito ceremony, an important traditional rite among the Kalenjin people that involves family participation, customary negotiations and blessings for the couple.
The ceremony at Seretion Village brought together relatives, friends and members of the local community. Ferretto also participated in the traditional celebrations, with videos from the event showing him dancing alongside his bride.
The wedding has generated discussion because of Ferretto’s previous position as a Catholic priest and the Church’s longstanding discipline regarding priestly celibacy.
In the Latin Catholic tradition, priests are ordinarily required to observe celibacy and are not permitted to marry while remaining in the clerical state. A priest who seeks to leave the clerical state and marry must go through the appropriate Church process.
However, publicly available reports have not provided sufficient details to establish the exact canonical status of Ferretto’s departure from the priesthood or whether the Catholic Church has issued a formal statement regarding his marriage.
Ferretto’s story has nevertheless drawn considerable attention because of his long association with Kenya. After spending more than a decade working as a missionary and parish priest in Baringo, he has now begun a new chapter of his life with Jepng’ok.
The former priest’s transition from missionary service to marriage has sparked widespread interest online, particularly among people familiar with his years of service in the Baringo community.
His wedding also highlights the personal connections that can develop between missionaries and the communities where they spend many years serving, with Ferretto ultimately choosing to celebrate his marriage according to the traditions of the Kenyan community where he had spent a significant part of his life.
Catholic priest leaves priesthood, weds Kenyan woman after 12 years in Kenya
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metro
MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged murder of Pa Biliaminu Taiwo in Fiditi, Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, in November 2019.
The organisation also called for appropriate legal action against Ojo Akinlabi, following his reported arrest in connection with the killing.
In a press release dated October 23, 2026, MURIC said the petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police on October 22 and acknowledged by the commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan.
According to the organisation, Pa Taiwo was allegedly hacked to death inside a mosque in Fiditi in November 2019.

MURIC urged the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the case and ensure that anyone found culpable was prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The group also called on the authorities to ensure that the case was handled in a manner that would prevent justice from being frustrated.
“Murder is not a bailable offence,” the organisation said, urging the police to ensure that the suspect was brought before a court of competent jurisdiction and that any decision concerning his custody or release complied with the law.
MURIC further alleged that Akinlabi had a history of violent attacks, including incidents involving the use of knives allegedly coated with poison. However, the organisation did not provide supporting details of the alleged incidents in the statement.
The group described the allegations as a matter of concern and called for appropriate action by the relevant authorities.
Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of human rights and the rule of law, MURIC said allegations of criminal conduct should receive the attention of law enforcement agencies and be subjected to due process.
The statement was signed by Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, Secretary of MURIC in Oyo State.
The organisation concluded its appeal with the declaration: “Justice delayed must not become justice denied.”
As of the time of the statement, MURIC had not provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest or the current status of the police investigation. The allegations against Akinlabi have not been independently verified, and any determination of criminal responsibility remains a matter for the courts.
MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
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metro
Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a man accused of impersonating a permanent secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) after he was allegedly caught using a forged number plate bearing the inscription “PRESIDENCY”.
The suspect was arrested on October 20, 2026, after police operatives intercepted a Lexus LX570 sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Maitama District, Abuja, at about 8pm.
According to the police, the concealed number plate carried the registration number 10B218 FG.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the documents presented to support the registration were allegedly forged.
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Adeh said the suspect had claimed to be the legitimate holder of the number plate, prompting further investigations that reportedly uncovered the alleged fraud and impersonation.
“The vehicle and its occupant were promptly arrested for investigation and subsequent prosecution,” the police said.
The command added that investigations were ongoing and that the suspect would be charged to court upon their conclusion.
The police urged residents to remain law-abiding, cooperate with security operatives and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
The arrest comes amid concerns over the unauthorised use of official government and diplomatic number plates in the FCT. Police authorities have previously raised concerns that such plates could be used by unauthorised individuals to evade scrutiny or facilitate criminal activities.
The suspect’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and the allegations remain subject to the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.
Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
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metro
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
Accra, Ghana — A routine breakup escalated into a catastrophic act of arson this week, leaving a young man homeless and his former girlfriend in police custody. The Ghana Police Service has arrested a young woman accused of deliberately setting her boyfriend’s rented apartment on fire after he ended their relationship. The shocking trigger for the split? The woman had answered a phone call on his mobile device without his permission.
According to preliminary police investigations, the couple became embroiled in a volatile and heated argument over the breach of privacy. The confrontation spiraled rapidly out of control when the boyfriend, reportedly furious that she had answered his phone, decided to end the relationship on the spot. Rather than accepting the breakup, the woman’s anger reportedly boiled over into a dangerous and premeditated rage.
In the aftermath of the breakup, authorities allege that the woman intentionally ignited a fire inside the man’s rented home in an act of vengeance. Eyewitnesses described a scene of sheer chaos as flames rapidly consumed the residence, forcing neighbors to flee and local fire services to be summoned to battle the inferno. Dramatic images from the scene reveal a landscape of utter devastation, with the apartment reduced to a pile of charred debris and twisted metal. While no casualties have been reported, the property damage is extensive, and the young man has effectively lost his home and belongings.
The Ghana Police Service acted swiftly following the incident, apprehending the young woman who is now in police custody facing potential charges of arson and destruction of property. Local neighbors have expressed profound shock at the severity of the attack, with one bewildered resident telling reporters, “It is just a phone call. To burn down a whole apartment because you were broken up with? It is a very sad day for us here.” The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days as the police finalize their case, serving as a chilling reminder of the dangerous consequences of unchecked anger.
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
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