- Fondly known as Father Ichie, the Catholic priest and his driver were reportedly freed almost eight days after their abduction
Reverend Father Kingsley Eze, along with his driver, who were kidnapped in Imo State, have been released by their captors.
Father Eze, the parish priest of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Umuekebi community, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, and his driver Uchenna Newman were abducted on November 30, 2023, while making a purchase at Orieama junction around 8 pm.
Fondly known as Father Ichie, the Catholic priest and his driver were reportedly freed almost eight days after their abduction.
Initially, the kidnappers demanded a N50 million ransom from the driver’s wife, but later reduced it to N10 million. However, it’s been suggested that the victims paid N500,000 as ransom, although there hasn’t been an official police response to the incident.
Despite this, there have been reports of jubilation in Father Eze’s parish, with faithful members visiting the parish house to see him.
“I can now confirm that the Reverend Father and the driver have been released after a ransom of N500,000 was paid yesterday around Umucheke Okwe in the Onuimo LGA,” a source told PUNCH.
Another source, an indigene of the Umuekebi community added, “It is true, the priest and Mr Uchenna have been released. They are back home. The vehicle they were kidnapped in was tolled from the Okigwe area. We thank God that they are home.”
Discussion about this post