Reverend Father Kingsley Eze, who was kidnapped with his driver in Imo State has been freed by his captors.
Father Eze, a parish priest of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in the Umuekebi community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State and his driver Uchenna Newman were abducted on November 30, 2023 when they alighted from a Volvo jeep to make some purchase at Orieama junction around 8 pm.
The Catholic priest, who is fondly called Father Ichie and his driver were reportedly freed on Friday nearly eight days they were kidnapped.
SaharaReporters cannot immediately ascertain whether ransom was paid for their freedom.
It had been reported that the kidnappers contacted the wife of the driver on Sunday and Monday demanding a N50 million ransom for the release of the duo. They later called and reduced the price tag to N10 million.
While the state police command has yet to react to the kidnap of the priest, there was report of jubilation in his parish as the faithful are trooping to the parish house to see him.
Some sources meanwhile have claimed that the victims paid N500,000 as ransom.
“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.”
