BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Nigeria police said it has rescued the Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Archdiocese, Owerri, Bishop Moses Chikwe, and some other kidnapped victims.
The cheering news is coming after the victims reportedly spent about five agonizing days in the kidnappers’ den
Spokesman of the Imo State Police Command, Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed their release on Friday, January 1, 2021, said the abductees were rescued without any ransom paid.
He attributed the successful freedom of the victims to a sting operation by men of the Imo State Police Command.
The Catholic Clergy was abducted on Sunday night, along with his driver, at the World Bank area of Owerri, the Imo State capital.
His abduction drew condemnation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which described it as the ‘height of wickedness’.
A statement issued by CAN’s Chairman in Imo State, Reverend Eches Divine Eches on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, had called on the police authorities to immediately rescue the victims.
“The development is what I describe as the height of wickedness against the Church. I have already reached out to the Imo State Police Commissioner to fish out the perpetrators of this wicked act even as I will reach out to the State Government to ensure our Bishop’s safety,” the CAN chairman statement said
Also, on Thursday, December 31, 2020, women, under the auspices of Owerri Archdiocesan Catholic Women Organization, appealed to the state government and security operatives to help secure the Bishop’s release.
