Kidnap Of Methodist Prelate, a Sacrilege, Abomination National And International Embarrassment ….Methodist Presbyter
FIC Report (Abia State) – The Prelate of Methodist Church, Samuel Uche Kanu has been kidnapped along with the Methodist Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark, the Prelate’s Chaplain and Driver along Leru Isuochi within the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
It was gathered that the Prelate officiated a Sunday Church service at one of the Churches along the area, returning back to Owerri to catch a flight back to Lagos when he was kidnapped by yet to be identified gun men.
The kidnappers are already making a demand of one hundred million naira before they can be released.
Reacting over the incident, the Presbyter, Wesley Cathedral, Umuahia, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Very Rev. Aaron Akabuokwu says the kidnap of Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Uche Kanu, is a sacrilege, abomination and height of national and international embarrassment.
The Presbyter stated this while reacting over the kidnap of the Prelate in Leru Isuochi while on his way to board an aeroplane to Lagos after officiating a Sunday church service.
The Presbyter said the news came to them as a rude shock that a man of such calibre could be whisked away into the bush all in the name of money.
In his words “Everybody should know that the Methodist Church in Nigeria is mourning, we are in a very sad mood because of the ugly incident that happened on the 29th of May 2022 is a sacrilege, an abomination and height of national and international embarrassment.
“It goes to show how low morally people have gone in this nation, there is no regard for the sacred, we are trusting that God will use what has happened to wake our Leaders”.
He regretted that if such a profile person could be kidnapped then no hope for the ordinary man.
He disclosed that the axis of Okigwe, Ihube, and Lokpanta cattle market, Isuochi have become dangerous areas for kidnappers and said kidnappers for sometimes now have their den around the area kidnapping and demanding for ransom.
The man of God disclosed that churches since the incident happened had engaged in serious prayers asking for God’s intervention and believing that very soon both the Prelate, Bishop of Owerri Diocese, the Chaplain and Driver will be released safely.
He called on the state government and security agencies to be proactive and bring an end to the incessant kidnapping along those areas.
It won’t be out of place to add that Indigenes of the Uturu community in Isuikwuato Council area of Abia State, had not too long ago barricaded the Okigwe – Uturu – Isuikwuato road, protesting the high rate of kidnapping of ABSU Students and motorists in the area. The protest which began along Uturu road close to Marist Brothers Secondary School, saw protesters calling on the Imo and Abia State governments to take urgent actions to curb the kidnapping and killings of their people.
One of the protesters said that many natives of Uturu community and students of the Abia State University, (ABSU), Uturu, have been abducted and made to pay ransom while others lost their lives to the hoodlums.The protesters lamented that the situation is affecting the economy of their community and called for the security agencies to redouble efforts to end the menace.They said; “The road has become a source of terror for motorists and passengers who are mostly students. Many people including indigenes of Uturu community have been kidnapped and ransom paid while others lost their lives. There are more than six security checkpoints are along the road but people are still being kidnapped. The Imo state government and their Abia counterpart must urgently take action to end kidnapping and killing of people on Okigwe – Uturu- Isuikwuato road. We are no longer safe. Many people have been Killed.No day passes without these hoodlums kidnapping motorists who are mostly students.”A few days ago, a motorist was shot dead while some passengers suspected to be students of the ABSU were abducted. Meanwhile, the Abia state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, said it is committed to ending kidnapping in the area.The Commissioner disclosed that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is saddened by the situation and would leave no stone unturned to ensure normalcy is returned on the Okigwe- Uturu – Isuikwuato road.
He said; “Government has been informed of the incident of senseless kidnapping and unfortunate death of innocent citizens especially students around the ABSU – Uturu – Okigwe axis and Umunneochi – Ihube area occasioned by the criminal activities of terrorists.“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is a very proactive, security-conscious leader who over the years has proven through visible results that the safety and welfare of all Abians and Nigerians are his topmost priority. “We, as a Government, are saddened by this ugly development around our boundaries with Imo State and are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that normalcy is quickly restored. “However, we may not for operational reasons be able to go into further details at this time so as to safeguard the processes already put in place by our hardworking security agencies and government authorities.“The government assures residents of the state of its commitment to ending the menace of kidnapping in the area.”
The Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), however as a result of this approved a mid-semester break for all regular students of the University with an Order to vacate all halls of residence and await further directives on the date of return.
