There is shock and anger over Sunday’s abduction of the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu Uche, along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
He was kidnapped alongside Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark, the Methodist Bishop of Owerri and the Prelate’s Chaplain by gunmen.
They were kidnapped in the afternoon after attending a programme in the Umunneochi LGA. The area is notorious as a haven for kidnappers and gunmen who terrorise the area.
Many are angry that despite the presence of military and other security agencies in the South East especially along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, the area is still largely unsecured for the free passage of people and goods.
Said a resident of Umunneochi, “If His Eminence can easily be abducted along with his two top aides, then come to think of what we are going through in the area. Yet, these security agencies are deployed to secure here. We cannot move freely and cannot in any way live a normal life here. We are in shock and we are now thinking that there is largely no government security for anyone again in this country.
“Why do we have to live as if all the institutions of governance have failed? I just can’t understand this. The next thing now is the payment of ransom. These transactions are done through the telephone and yet the security agencies cannot trace the location of these phone lines and calls. What is going on?”
The Police Public Relations Officer in Abia, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the kidnap saying, “it’s quite unfortunate. Efforts are on top gear toward his rescue as well as other priests with him.
“We solicit credible information from the public toward their rescue, please,.”