Samuel Kanu Uche, the prelate of the Nigerian Methodist Church, was abducted by armed militants while traveling on a highway on Sunday, May 29. The attack took place in the southeastern state of Abia.
Reverend Dennis Mark, the Methodist Bishop of Owerri, and the prelate’s chaplain were also kidnapped with Uche on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway as they left a church programme in the south eastern state of Abia. Their captors were militants affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group in Nigeria.
According to a police spokesman, the priests were released after a day. Police provided no further details regarding the attack.
It’s unclear if any ransom was paid to secure their release.
Nigeria is seeing a wave of abductions of members of the clergy and religious faithful. The Boko Haram Islamic extremist group is behind many of the attacks, but unidentified gunmen are responsible for a growing number of security threats.
In April, a new law banned the paying of ransoms due to the regular kidnappings taking place across Nigeria.
Dr David Landrum, Head of Advocacy at Open Doors, has been keeping a close eye on the escalating situation.
It’s unclear if any ransom was paid to secure their release.
Nigeria is seeing a wave of abductions of members of the clergy and religious faithful. The Boko Haram Islamic extremist group is behind many of the attacks, but unidentified gunmen are responsible for a growing number of security threats.
In April, a new law banned the paying of ransoms due to the regular kidnappings taking place across Nigeria.
Open Doors, has been keeping a close eye on the escalating situation and they are concerned that due to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine – the attacks in Nigeria aren’t receiving the attention they require.
They are trying to wake up the international community to act and to do something to focus on security, and really press the Nigerian government, particularly ahead of the elections next February, to make security of their own people the number one priority
