Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The kidnappers of the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Rev Samuel Kanu-Uche, and two others have demanded a ransom of N100 million for the clerics to regain their freedom.
This is as the church has intensified prayers and appeal for fund to rescue the clerics.
Rev. Uche, his Chaplain, and the Bishop of Owerri Diocese, were abducted by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen along Lokpa axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Abia State on Sunday afternoon.
Secretary of the Conference, Rt. Revd. Dr. Michael Akinwale, in a statement Monday, confirmed the N100 million ransom demand from their abductors.
The statement disclosed the account details for donations as: “Name: Methodist Church Nigeria. Account Number: 2000041229 Bank: First Bank.”
It read in part: “All Archbishops/Bishops, Your Grace/Right Reverence, Grace, Peace, and Love of God be with you and all that is yours Amen. The devastating news of the Abduction of our Prelate, the Bishop of Owerri, and the Prelate’s Chaplain has left everybody in shock.
“This is a period of trial in which the Church must cry out that ‘The Lord that answereth by Fire’ must be our God to destroy all the manipulations of the Adversary. Let us all arise and cry out to the Lord!
“As we engage in Prayer Warfare, this serves to notify you that the Abductors have demanded a ransom of N100m.
“In view of the urgency and the dire need to arrest the situation for the safety of our Prelate and other abductees, it has become imperative to seek your URGENT RESPONSE to raise the N100m ransom.
“The Account particulars are: Name: Methodist Church Nigeria. Account Number: 2000041229 Bank: First Bank.
“The safety of the Prelate and other abductees must be of paramount concern to all, and your contributions spiritually and monetarily shall not go unrewarded. Yours in Present Anguish, The Rt. Revd. (Dr.) Michael O. Akinwale, Secretary of Conference.”
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has expressed furry over Sunday’s abduction of the Methodist Church Prelate, His Eminence, Samuel Uche, and two others travelling with him.
CAN strongly condemned the abduction and appealed to their captors to show respect to God by releasing the clerics in their captivity.
The Prelate was kidnapped Sunday afternoon around Lokpa, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
He was traveling with the Methodist Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark; and the Prelate’s Chaplain when unknown gunmen suspected to be armed herders abducted them.
Kidnapping for ransom by armed herdsmen has been very rampant around the vicinity including Uturu-Okigwe axis where a number of innocent commuters including students and lecturers at the Abia State University have been kidnapped in the recent times.
No fewer than 10 clerics have been kidnapped by these criminals in 2022 alone.
CAN in a statement released on Monday and signed by the Special Assistant, Media and Communications to the CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, urged Buhari to direct the security agencies to free the Methodist Prelate and his companions immediately.
According to the apex Christian body, President Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief, has all it takes to rescue the Prelate.
CAN pleaded with the President not to delay action so that the cleric and his co-victims will be rescued unhurt.
The statement obtained by Ikengaonline reads in part: “We condemn the abduction of the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche and two others in strong terms and call on President Muhammadu Buhari to give an express order to the security agencies to free them immediately and stop the incessant abduction of clerics and other innocent Nigerians forthwith.
“If a great Servant of God of Uche’s calibre could be kidnapped like a three-year old baby on a major road without any resistance from the Police, it speaks volume of what our security architecture has become.
“This is no more a country one can be proud of. No reasonable government can continue to leave the citizens in a terrible state of insecurity as we are presently. This situation is not good for our nation at all.
“We once again, call on President Muhammadu Buhari to do all within his powers to get these servants of God released very soon and unhurt.”
CAN appealed to their captors to release the innocent Ministers of God.
“To those who are holding these Servants of God, we appeal to them to let go of them because they are not responsible for whatever reasons that made them criminals.
“We call on Christians and other well-meaning Nigerians to join us in praying for their release immediately,” CAN said.
