Abduction of Methodist Church Prelate, bishop, chaplain: N100m ransom demanded

Hours after the Prelate of Methodist Church, Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kalu Uche, and two other priests from the church were kidnapped, their abductors have demanded a N100 million ransom, the church has disclosed.

The Secretary of Methodist Conference in Nigeria, the Rt. Revd. (Dr.) Michael Akinwale confirmed the demand for ransom in a statement on Monday.

Persecondnews had reported that the Head of the church in Nigeria (the Prelate), the Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark and the Prelate’s Chaplain, were kidnapped on Sunday in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State in the wake of renewed criminalities in the Southeast.

The Senate had in April 2022 criminalized ransom payment to kidnappers and bandits following the passage of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

The prohibition by the lawmakers followed the receipt and consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters on the bill.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who chairs the committee, had moved that the lawmakers receive the report after which he presented it for consideration.

However, the Methodist church statement said: “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 safety of the Prelate and other abductees must be of paramount concern to all, and your contributions spiritually and monetarily shall not go unrewarded.”

He appealed to all parishioners to help in raising the N100 million ransom, adding that monies should be paid into Methodist Church Nigeria. Account No. 2000041229 at First Bank.

Earlier, the State Police Command spokesman, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, had confirmed the incident, saying: “It’s quite unfortunate. Efforts are on top gear toward his rescue as well as other priests with him.

“We solicit credible information from the public toward their rescue, please.”