THE ARCHDIOCESE Of Songea Has Confirmed That Father Camillus Nikata, A Lecturer At The St. Augustine University Of Tanzania (SAUT) In Mwanza, Has Gone Missing Under Unclear Circumstances.
In A Statement Issued By Archbishop Damian Dallu, The Church Said Father Nikata Was Last Seen At St. Vianney House In Songea, Where He Had Been Staying After Returning From A Priests’ Workshop In Dodoma. He Was Scheduled To Travel To Mwanza On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Using A Superfeo Bus — A Ticket He Had Already Purchased Online.
However, Concerns Arose When His Luggage Remained In His Locked Room And His Phone Went Unanswered. The Household Staff At St. Vianney Confirmed That Father Nikata Never Collected His Travel Bag, And The Bus Company Later Verified That He Did Not Board The Bus To Mwanza.
After Failed Attempts To Reach Him Or Trace His Whereabouts, The Archdiocese Officially Reported The Matter To Police, Urging Anyone With Information To Come Forward.
The Church Community And Faithful Across Tanzania Are Now Joining In Prayers For Father Nikata’s Safety And Swift Return.
Statement on the Disappearance of Father Camillus Nikata
On behalf of the faithful of the Archdiocese of Songea, we wish to inform the public that Reverend Father Camillus Nikata, a priest of the Archdiocese of Songea and a lecturer at St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) in Mwanza, has gone missing and cannot be reached by phone.
Father Nikata had recently returned from Dodoma, where he had attended a workshop for university lecturers under the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), together with another priest from the same diocese. While in Songea, he was staying at St. Vianney Priests’ House. He had planned to travel to Mwanza on Wednesday morning, October 8, 2025, by Superfeo bus, and had already purchased his ticket online.
However, by Wednesday afternoon, it became apparent that he had not traveled, as his room — which was locked — still contained the luggage he had packed for the journey. The house attendant at the Priests’ House was surprised to find that the bag Father Nikata was supposed to collect before leaving had been left behind. The room was locked, but the key had not been returned.
After noticing these signs, we began searching for him — calling his phone and asking those who lived with him at the Priests’ House — but to no avail. He could not be reached, and no one knew his whereabouts. At the destination he was expected to reach in Mwanza, he was also not seen or heard from. The Superfeo bus company later confirmed that Father Nikata purchased the ticket but never boarded the bus.
After all efforts to locate him failed, we reported the matter to the police for further investigation.
Issued by:
Damian Dallu
Archbishop of Songea
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