Gunmen have freed a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Kingsley Eze, and a driver, Uchenna Newman, following their abduction in Imo State, South East Nigeria.
Reverend Father Eze, affectionately known as Father Ichie, serves as the priest at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church Parish within the community.
The abduction occurred approximately seven days ago at Umuekebi, Osuoweerre, in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state. The victims were abducted at a junction around 8 p.m.
The church members revealed that both the cleric and the driver returned home unharmed, confirming their safe release, The Nation reported quoting a source.
He said, “I can now confirm that the Rev Father and the driver have been released after a ransom of N500,000 was paid yesterday around Umucheke Okwe in the Onuimo LGA”.
Initially, the abductors demanded a ransom of N50 million from the driver’s wife for their release. However, negotiations led to a reduction in the ransom to N10 million before a final sum of N500,000 was reportedly paid to secure their freedom.
One source confirmed the release of the victims after the payment of the ransom, specifying the location of the transaction in Umucheke Okwe, Onuimo Local Government Area, the newspaper reported.
Imo State, like other South East states in Nigeria, has been experiencing heightened security challenges, with frequent attacks and incidents of violence targeting various individuals and groups.
The abduction of the priest and driver follows recent violent occurrences in the state, including the killing of a divisional police officer and a police inspector by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Gunmen had also previously abducted and killed the traditional ruler of Otulu Community in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, as well as a ward chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party.
These incidents have raised concerns about security and safety in the region, amid the ongoing agitations led by IPOB for the creation of an independent state of Biafra in parts of South East and South-South.
