The Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Samuel Kanu Uche, has accused Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu of being a liar over the ordeal he and other kidnap victims went through at the hands of their captors.
He stated this while narrating his near death experience.
The Prelate alongside the Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Rev. Dennis Mark and the Prelate’s chaplain were on Sunday, kidnapped in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia state.
ALSO READ: How Methodist Prelate, Uche was released – Abia Gov, Ikpeazu
Addressing a Press conference in Lagos, the clergyman confirmed their abductors to be Fulani, alleging that some personnel of the Nigerian Army were aiding the kidnappers in their activities.
Governor Ikpeazu had in a statement, assured that security will be stepped up around the Isuikwuato – Umunneochi axis of the State where there has, in the recent past, been a spike in the activities of criminals.
“The location of the area around the state’s borders with 4 states of Imo, Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi make it attractive to criminals who easily enter the State and also escape through any of these routes.
“The Governor called for Inter State Collaboration with the neighboring states in securing those areas and stamp out the activities of criminals there.”
But in the Prelate’s words: “These people came out from the bush, divided themselves into theee groups with some of them firing at us and another making sure we didn’t escape before eventually abducting the there of us.
The communications man and the driver were able to escape, but they abducted me, the bishop of Owerri and my chaplain and they took us to the bush and were torturing us.
“It was in the process of that torture that I hit my right eye on a tree. Even when blood was flowing and I was soaking my eyes with a handkerchief, they didn’t have pity on me.
“All they said was that we should follow them and that they were not actually against Nigerian citizens but against the government, that the government is bad.
“They were eight Fulani boys. They said the day they will see the president or any of his representatives, they will chew them raw. They admitted he is their brother but that he has disappointed them and has disappointed Nigeria.
” I told them that even though I am a part of government, I am only a church man, not a government official.
“They said that is what has saved you, we would have killed you out-rightly without asking for any ransom.
“I trekked up to 15 kilometers but I knew we were just going up and down and eventually at 11pm they agreed we negotiate; each of us will pay N50million, totalling N150million for the three of us.
“I thought it was a joke and said we were going to pay N10 million which infuriated them as they lifted their knife to cut my throat but I pleaded and was lucky.”
He said the leader of the group is about 35 years while the others are about 18 and thereabout.
The clergyman said they had taken his rings, chain, took the money they had on them and insisted on the N150 million ransom.
The clergy said the abductors came down to 100million ransom, warning that if they negotiate, they would be killed.
“It was then we agreed to pay N100 million. After some time, they agreed and demanded for the money but I told them it was only a Sunday night and that there is sit at home order in igbo land. I pleased they wait till morning for us to make contacts.”
” They later lost their patience and laid Bishop Dennis Mark down and were about to cut him with a knife, while another pointed a gun at me to show they were serious,
“I told them we will raise the money but the irony of it is that where they were situated at a place where Nigerian soldiers were stationed at Lomara junction.
“I am not surprised because most of the Soldiers are of Fulani extraction and this boys were going behind them. Meanwhile they kept their cows somewhere, numbering about 200.
He said some people were taking care of the cows while the abductors were parading them around the bush until they settled at a place,
“They said when are you bring the money? I said by 12 noon, I will call the people i’ve contacted whether the money had been raised and I called them, they said they were gathering the money and they heard it because they said I will use my phone to talk, they can’t use their phone, they don’t want to be tracked
“Their leader was born in igbo land but his parents have died. He said he was born around Umuahia Amuzukwu and his father was a cow dealer, the boy understood Igbo”
He said the leader threatened to kill them if they informed security operatives when they had raised N100million.
The leader asked them to buy 5 Ghana Must Go bags and put N20 million in each bag. They left to pick the ransom while four others waited with guns.
“Around 5;30pm, the youngest boy who I think is a younger brother to their commander said oga congratulations you are free you can go now. We have got our money, you can go. Let me show you the road.
“They took us to old road, where they wrote welcome to Imo’ and ‘goodbye from Abia”.
“They told us that after buying enough weapons, they are going to bring all those people that were driven away from Zamfara, Katsina, Sambisa Forest by locating themselves in Igbo land and deal with us.
“He said they are in Ibadan expressway and the south south waiting for the slightest signal to the Igbo people and take over their land. They claimed that Nigeria belongs to Fulani.
The priest maintained that military personnel of Fulani extraction were aiding the kidnappers who disguise as herders in the daytime but are kidnappers at night.
He called on the government to take a decisive action ‘other wise what is happening in the north will be a child’s play”
On how they picked up the ransom, he said the terrorists came to the pick up spot with a truck without a number plate.
He stated that all efforts made to ensure that he is released was the effort of the Methodist church and her members and not security personnel nor government.
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