Prelate’s kidnap: Ikpeazu promises to beef up security at hotspots

Sopuruchi Onwuka

Executive governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has declared intention to strengthen security structures in the boundary communities in Isuikwuato and Umunneochi council areas of the state where kidnappers suspected to dangerously armed Fulani herdsmen have laid siege on the indigenous people.

The decision came after the prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Kanu Uche, was kidnapped by the hoodlums after attending a church event at Isuochi in Nneochi Diocese of the church. The diocese is located in Umunneochi local government area of Abia State.

Dr Ikpeazu made the promise after speaking with the prelate after he was released from captivity and whisked off to safety by members of the church.

The Oracle Today reports that the prelate and his clergymen were released after conditions given by the abductors who had demanded ransom of N100 million were met.

The governor had condemned the kidnap of the prelate and promised to lead a coordinated security manhunt for the kidnappers.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, stated in a release that Dr Ikpeazu had expressed delight at the release of the clerics after speaking with the prelate who he described as a son of Abia State.

The Governor attributed the release of these eminent men of God within 24 hours of their abduction to the grace of God, the fervent prayers of the Christian community and the well coordinated response from security agencies in Abia State.

He declared that security services would be stepped up around the Isuikwuato – Umunneochi axis of the state where there has been a spike in the activities of criminals in the recent past.

The governor stated that the location of the area around the state’s borders with four states of Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi makes it attractive to criminals who easily enter the State and also escape through any of these routes.

Dr Ikpeazu also called for inter-state security collaboration among the neighboring states to secure the areas and stamp out the activities of criminals.

Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His EminenceDr Samuel Kanu Uche, who was kidnapped along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway on Sunday, was released Monday night after over 18 hours in the hands of criminals.

The prelate was kidnapped along with the Bishop of the Owerri Diocese of the church, Rt Rev  Dennis Okechukwu Michael, the prelate’s chaplain and some office staff.

The kidnappers suspected to be Fulani militants that reside with cattle dealers within the Lokpanta village also in the local government area had demanded N100 million from families of their victims.

It is not clear how the huge ransom money was rapidly raised but pressure was said to be high on the leaders of the church to secure the release of the prelate who is said to be very elderly.

The Methodist clergy and laity had since the incident on Sunday mounted a prayer vigil until the clergymen were released.

We gathered that the prelate was kidnapped at a spot less than 100 meters from a military checkpoint between Leru and Ihube along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. The spot was also less than 100 meters from another military checkpoint at Lomara junction in Isuochi. It was about 150 meters from mobile police checkpoint at Ndiawa Isuochi , the route which the prelate reportedly took to join the expressway before the kidnappers struck.

The Nigerian Police, Abia State command, confirmed the abduction of the prelate but now visible response to the incident had been activated by the security agencies until the church secured the release of its leaders.

Abia north, The Oracle Today reports, has increasingly turned to kidnappers’ den as abduction of local men and women by criminal syndicates has become commonplace. Students of Abia State University were kidnapped on several occasions, leading to protests by students and Uturu community youths.