The Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Samuel Kanu-Uche, who was abducted by hoodlums in Abia State, has said that the church paid a sum of N100m to secure his freedom.
Uche who spoke at a press conference in Lagos, said the monies were arranges in five sacks of N20 million.
He explained that the gang threatened to kill him if the N100 million was not paid.
Uche added that he was beaten by his abductors.
This development countered earlier submissions by the Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who said Prelate’s release wad through divine intervention.
Ikpeazu while sharing his excitement about the release in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, the governor stated that their release was through “grace of God, the fervent prayers of the Christian Community and the well-coordinated response from security agencies in Abia State”.
But, Prelate Uche said the funds were raised by the Methodist Church Nigeria, as neither the federal nor state government, not even the military or police intervened.
The cleric was kidnapped on Sunday in Abia State but was released on Monday.
The Prelate had been kidnapped alongside two others, the Bishop of Methodist Church, Owerri Diocese, Rt Rev Dennis Mark and the Prelate’s chaplain, Very Rev Jeremiah Abidemi Shittu.
They were reportedly whisked away at about 2pm on their was from a church programme in Okigwe Imo State to Isuochi in Umu Nneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
Information gathered that Kanu-Uche was abducted on Sunday along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
They were, however, released on Monday.
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