Rev. Father Chinedu Nwadike, a priest of the Catholic Church, and a seminarian who were abducted on Friday along the Okigwe-Enugu Road in Abia State have been released.
In addition to a seminarian, Father Nwadike, a priest from the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSP) and the current deputy registrar of Spiritan University Nneochi (SUN), was kidnapped on Friday in Nneochi axis after leaving the university’s gate on his way to Enugu.
The release was not without price, according to Abuchi Anueyiagu, a relative of the priest who announced their release on Monday night by posting a photo of them on his Facebook page.
Sir Anueyiagu wrote,
“Do kindly rejoice with us, Rev Fr Dr Chinedu Nwadike, Cssp, has eventually regained freedom. He and the seminarian, Emmanuel, were released Sunday evening unhurt to the glory of God. We express our grateful appreciation for your prayers. May God bless you.
“Pix shows the priest (right) and the seminarian when they were released to go home, though not without payment of a ransom anyway before they were freed.”
Soon after their kidnapping, the gunmen demanded N50 million as ransom before releasing them.
According to reports, His Eminence Samuel Kanu-Uche, the outgoing prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, and two other people were abducted in the same area.
Then, after a N100,000,000 ransom was paid, he was freed. He had alleged collaboration between Nigerian Army personnel and the kidnappers.
There have been countless kidnapping cases along the location, which is not far from a military checkpoint.
The Commander, Police Special Tactical Squad (STF) Abia State, had also accused the military personnel of being involved in the kidnapping ring.