From: Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki
A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Timothy Nwanja, abducted by gunmen in Okpokueze Nkomoro community, Imoho Development Centre, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has been rescued by the police.
Also, the cook to the priest, abducted along side with her boss was also rescued. According to sources, the cleric, who serves at St. Mary’s parish, was kidnapped by three gunmen at about 8:30pm on Sunday night at his residence.
This was even as the police said that they had arrested one of the suspected kidnappers. They ( police), however, regretted that they could not capture the remaining two but vowed that they would hunt the fleeing suspects.
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer [PPRO], Mrs. Loveth Odah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said that the police, acting on tip off, raided the criminals’ hideout.
She narrated that while the cleric was having his dinner, the kidnappers sneaked into his room. She said that the priest’s cook who had gone upstairs to get water from the refrigerator was first captured.
“When the priest heard the loud screaming, he ran upstairs to know what was going on and they also captured him. One of them was familiar with the area while the two were not.
“They took him away in his own vehicle. They blindfolded him and tied his ears so that he won’t be able to listen to their interaction. At a point, they separated the cook and the priest. They allowed the cook to go but it was a plot” she narrated.
Odah disclosed that the cleric had jumped out through the window of the uncompleted building where he was taken to. She revealed that the trio had taken Holy Communion wine and as a result, slept off.
She said that the criminals had planned to request the sum N100 million ransom from the Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese in the morning before they ran out of luck.