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The Parish Priest of St Michael’s Catholic Church in Umuekebi community area of Osuoweerre Autonomous community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Rev. Fr Kingsley Eze and his driver, Uchenna Newman, have regained their freedom about a week in kidnappers’ den.
The Eastern Updates recalls that Catholic priest and the driver were kidnapped last Thursday.
At around 8:00 p.m., they were abducted at Orie Ama Junction while operating a Volvo jeep.
Yesterday, a few parishioners informed reporters that the priest and his driver had made a safe journey home.
It was not certain how much ransom was paid before they were released but one of the sources said that the priest and his driver allegedly paid N500k ransom for their freedom.
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The source said ‘I can now confirm that the Rev Father and the driver have been released after a ransom of N500,000 was paid yesterday around Umucheke Okwe in the Onuimo LGA.’
Another source who is an indigene of Umuekebi community also confirmed the release of the kidnap victims saying that the priest’s vehicle was tolled home from the Okigwe axis.
He said ‘it is true. The priest and Mr Uchenna have been released. They are home. The vehicle they were kidnapped in was tolled home from Okigwe area. We thank God that they are home.’
An elated parishioner also said Friday that the church was happy with the safe return of the parish priest and his driver.
He said ‘our priest is back together with the driver. We are happy that they are healthy. May God’s name be praised.
It would be recalled that the kidnappers had on Sunday and Monday contacted the wife of the driver and placed a N50 million ransom for the release of the priest and his driver and later reduced the price tag to N10million.
The state police command didn’t react over the kidnap of the priest and had yet to issue any statement over their release.
