The Catholic Bishop of Mafinga Diocese in Iringa Region, Vincent Mwagala, has spoken out regarding Father Jordan Kibiki, who on September 18, 2025, posted on WhatsApp claiming he had been abducted by armed men.
Bishop Mwagala explained that Father Kibiki had suffered a mental health crisis after falling victim to an online scam earlier that day. Following his recovery, the priest told police that he could not recall how he ended up in Mbeya Region.
“After medical examination, it was confirmed that he was experiencing depression,” Bishop Mwagala said. “This condition was triggered when he realized he had lost nearly 3.5 million shillings in an online business deal on eBay. He felt deceived when asked to send more money against the initial agreement with his online contact.”
The false kidnapping report prompted a police investigation. On September 24, 2025, Iringa Regional Police Commander SACP Allan Bukumbi announced that officers had traced the priest to Mbalizi in Mbeya.
Police confirmed that he had not been abducted, but had instead used WhatsApp to spread false information.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the priest was struggling with heavy debts after borrowing money from various individuals and failing to repay. He was channeling those funds into online business through eBay,” SACP Bukumbi said.
However, Bishop Mwagala disputed the debt claims, stressing that the incident was primarily linked to mental health challenges.
“In normal circumstances, he would not have abandoned a vehicle worth more than 25 million shillings in the forest,” he said.
Father Kibiki has since been released on police bail and is currently receiving treatment at Tosamaganga Catholic Hospital under the care of the Church.
