Methodist Church procures release of kidnapped prelate
(By our Southeast correspondents)
Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His EminenceDr Samuel Kanu Uche, who was kidnapped along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway on Sunday, has been released by his abductors.
Impeccable sources confided in The Oracle Today that the prelate and his clergymen were released after conditions given by the abductors were met.
The Oracle Today reports that Dr Uche was kidnapped along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
The kidnappers suspected Fulani militants that reside with cattle dealers within the Lokpanta village also in the local government areahad demanded N100 million from families of the three victims who include the Methodist Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Rt Rv Dennis Okechukwu Michael; the prelate’s chaplain and some office staff.
It is not clear how the huge ransom money was rapidly raised but pressure was said to be high on the leaders of the church to secure the release of the prelate who is said to be very elderly.
The Methodist clergy and laity had since the incident on Sunday mounted a prayer vigil until the clergymen were released.
We gathered that the prelate was kidnapped at a spot less than 100 meters from a military checkpoint between Leru and Ihube along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. The spot was also less than 100 meters from another military checkpoint at Lomara junction in Isuochi. It was about 150 meters from mobile police checkpoint at Ndiawa Isuochi , the route which the prelate reportedly took to join the expressway before the kidnappers struck.
The Nigerian Police, Abia State command, confirmed the abduction of the prelate but now visible response to the incident had been activated by the security agencies until the church secured the release of its leaders.
Abia north, The Oracle Today reports, has increasingly turned to kidnappers’ den as abduction of local men and women by criminal syndicates has become commonplace. Students of Abia State University were kidnapped on several occasions, leading to protests by students and Uturu community youths.