Prelate’s kidnap: Ikpeazu leads manhunt as kidnappers demand N100m

• Community under siege

Sopuruchi Onwuka

Following the kidnap of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr Samuel Kanu Uche, on his way from Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, the entire southeast zone of the church has shutdown activities and commenced prayer vigil.

The Oracle Today reports that the Prelate Uche was on Sunday kidnapped along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

The Nigerian Police, Abia State command, has confirmed the incident amidst a spate of national outcry against militant attacks on religious leaders. Both the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Federation of Nigeria (PFN) have condemned to abduction of the clerics.

Our enquiries yielded that that kidnappers who are said to be high profile, given their communication skills, have 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, a younger priest of the church from northern part of the country was also abducted in the attack which was launched by suspected Fulani militants that reside with cattle dealers within the Lokpanta village also in the local government area.

We gathered that the prelate was kidnapped at a spot less than 100 meters from a military checkpoint between Leru and Ihube towns 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

Meanwhile, the governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, is said to be leading coordinated security efforts to secure the release of the elderly prelate and other victims of the attack.

The governor’s spokesman, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, who spoke with The Oracle Today, said the governor is distressed by the incident and is personally committed to safe release of the men of God.

He described the attack on the prelate’s convoy as affront on God.

Mr Ememanka expressed the government’s desire for enhanced efficiency of the federal security operatives stationed along the Leru axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, describing the worsening rate of abductions on the area a prime index of sophisticated brigandage.  

He said Governor Ikpeazu is applying himself to coordinate security response to the prelate’s abduction.

Senator representing the area, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has also condemned the kidnap of the prelate, describing it as disheartening. He challenged the security forces in the state to immediately secure safe release of the men of God.

Our correspondents gathered that the prelate and his companions were run off the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway and taken by the kidnappers just minutes after they left the court the Methodist Bishop of Nneochi Diocese, Rt Rev Ken Egbochue. They were in the diocese on official function to inaugurate a laity society for the church.

Bishop Egbochue who spoke with The Oracle Today said he did not have the right mood to comment on the incident. He sounded very disturbed but calm during the conversation.

Indigenous archbishop of Isuochi origin, Most Rev Onuagha, could not be reached to comment on the incident as he declined to pick our call. But a steward in one of the local churches said the entire Isuochi town which is dominated by the Methodist Church is in morning mood.

It is not clear how and whether ransom would be paid but pressure is said to be on the southeast bishops of the church to secure the release of the prelate who is said to be very elderly.

Sources close to the Bishop Michael of Owerri told our correspondents that the family of receiving the support of the priests and members of the diocese, adding that high level consultation was ongoing on Monday morning to provide support to the families of the abducted priests and seek their release from the kidnappers as quickly as possible.

After a midnight prayer vigil which was promptly convened for all Methodist churches in Owerri diocese last night, members of the church were also scheduled to resume prayers today and probably continue until the clergymen are released.

Meanwhile the people of Isuochi, a sprawling town of nine villages which hosts the Umunneochi council headquarters are also in the mood of intense grief and anger over the security predicament in the area which is dotted by military and mobile police checkpoints.

Some youth leaders who spokes to our correspondents said kidnapping of local people has become a daily routine, lamenting that the military and policemen that mount checkpoints in the area target vigilantes while criminals roam free.

The misplaced priorities of the security operatives in the area, according to them, have led to the prevailing worsening of insecurity in the area.

Our sources who declined to be named said the local government area has been overrun by commercial kidnappers, listing that three incidents of kidnapping took place along that of the prelate in the same weekend.

Two unnamed victims were said to be kidnapped after a funeral ceremony at Umurehihe village in Amuda. Another two were also snatched up along Umuaku road while unspecified number was also herded into the bush near Nneato town also in the council area.

“It is a high profile gang. They speak Housa and Igbo fluently; and they appear to be connected to powerful people,” our source said on phone.