Armed men have attacked a Catholic Church in Nigeria’s northern state of Katsina, killing one priest and taking another hostage.

The two clerics were abducted from St Vincent Catholic Church in Malumfashi in the early hours of Friday morning, a church official has confirmed.

One of the priests, 33-year-old Alphonsus Bello, was found dead on farmland behind the parish building, said Chris Omotosho, communications director for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.

The attackers made away with Fr Joe Keke, who is 75 years old, he said.

Kidnapping for ransom by armed criminal gangs has become a norm in Nigeria with the mainly Muslim state of Katsina being one of the worst-affected areas.

The Catholic Church in Nigeria says it has a no-ransom policy in the event of kidnapping.