The Anglican bishop whose abduction caused uproar in Rivers State walked back home from his slumbering abductors. The story of the abduction and eventual return of the cleric, Clement Ekpeye, has set tongues wagging endlessly in the oil rich state.
The bishop had reportedly played host and prayed for Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but allegedly began to receive threats, and ended up being abducted.
The abduction, which took place after evening church service on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, had elicited uproar from monarchs and community leaders even as the APC says it is wrong for citizens to be turned into commodities.
In the heat of the uproar, news filtered out that the peace-making bishop had walked back home. As sniffing dogs wanted to know the size of ransom that must have been paid, information came from reliable sources that the man of God simply walked away miraculously from his slumbering abductors at night.
This elicited fresh noise, but this time, of jubilation from many quarters.
The bishop’s ordeal was said to have begun when he allegedly played host to Tonye Cole of the APC and thereafter, life became unbearable with threats and eventual abduction. His wife said on radio that the gang came with “sophisticated” guns and three walked into their parlour soon after the man of God returned from evening service after 7pm.
The men demanded for money, but got none, and then phones. “They asked for the car key and my husband said please take the car. They said, no come with us. They ordered all of us to lie down. When I looked through the window, I saw him going with them. I rushed out and asked the guard, he said they took him with them”.
The woman who described the bishop as a peaceful man pleaded with the abductors to return him “unconditionally”.
The monarch and youths of the community have issued several statements, saying this is one abduction too many. They recounted several others but wondered why a rural-based cleric was targeted. The youths said the bishop was behind the successes of the amnesty scheme in the area which led to many armed men surrendering and accepting the Governor Nyesom Wike amnesty. They also said the bishop was non-partisan and straightforward and honest.
APC weighs in
“The attention of the Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation (TCCO), has been drawn to the reported kidnap of the Bishop of the Ahoada Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Clement Ekpeye. Bishop Ekpeye was kidnapped Tuesday 18th December, 2018 in the Ahoada East Local Government Area by some unknown persons.
“We have learnt that the priest was taken from his residence, beaten and forced into his car by the hoodlums who took him to an unknown destination. We recall that the gentle and respectable priest whose whereabouts are yet unknown was the clergyman who received, and prayed with Pastor Tonye Patrick Cole, flag bearer of the APC when he visited the area. We have also learnt that since Pastor Cole visited the area, the Priest has received threats from persons at large, claiming to act for, and on behalf of Governor Wike and the PDP.
“While we join all well-meaning Christians and others to pray for the safety and immediate return of Bishop Ekpeye to his loved ones and the Church, we urge the Rivers State Police Command and other security agencies to do the best that they can to rescue him.
“We are however, disturbed that under the watch of this government, kidnapping has degenerated so low that a Man of God who has dedicated his life to the service of mankind can be so brutally assaulted by thugs acting on the orders of their godfathers. The present day Rivers state continues to bring untold hardship on the people of Rivers State. Despite efforts by security agencies to keep the State safe, highly unsavoury elements disguised as leaders have persisted in their quest to create fear and insecurity.
“Our people are not game to be hunted down and killed neither are they slaves to be sold or exchanged for ransom. Jobs and prosperity cannot be built on the foundations of insecurity. Accordingly, we are urging all men and women of goodwill to rise up against this terror in Rivers State. Enough of this malaise; enough of this continuity. Bring us men of peace.”
The statement was signed by Ogbonna Nwuke, former commissioner of information in the Amaechi era, now head of communication in Tonye Cole campaign organisation.
Conclusion:
Just when nobody apart from the police seemed eager to lead the rescue search, the hand of God allegedly showed up. The man walked off while the kidnappers were in deep sleep. This makes it two men of God that went free after abduction. The first, a reverend and founder of a church in Eleme, Godwin Agbaye, walked away in September when the jeep whisking him away to Ogoni on high speed that evening somersaulted. The kidnappers went limp, but the reverend brushed off dust and went back home, leaving the police to sort the rest out.
Ignatius Chukwu
