Abducted Methodist church prelate admits N100m was faid for his release

Chidi Samuel| His Eminence, Samuel Uche, the abducted Prelate of the Methodist Church has revealed that a N100m was paid as ransom before he was released.

Uche, who made the disclosure at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, said the monies were arranged in five sacks of N20 million.

The funds, according to him, were raised by the Methodist Church in Nigeria.

He further revealed that neither the federal or state government, nor the military or police intervened to rescue them.

The prelate was kidnapped on Sunday in Abia state alongside two others, the Bishop of Methodist Church, Owerri Diocese, and the Prelate’s chaplain.

They were reportedly whisked away at about 2pm on their way from a church programme in Okigwe Imo State to Isuochi in Umu Nneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

They were released on Monday.

Kidnapping for ransom is rife in parts of Nigeria, including the South-East where most violent crimes have been blamed on Ipob, a group seeking secession of the region from Nigeria.