The cleric who narrated his near-death expertise within the fingers of kidnappers stated they had been eight in quantity, all Fulani herders, with one who claimed to have been born in Abia State.

SaharaReporters had reported that the Prelate, his chaplain, Very Rev. Abidemi Shittu, and the Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark had been kidnapped on Sunday alongside the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway within the Umunneochi Native Authorities Space of Abia State.

Uche, who recounted his expertise at a press convention held at Methodist Church, Yaba, Lagos State, on Tuesday, alleged that some army personnel from the North had been aiding the abductors of their actions within the area.

The Prelate stated, “These individuals got here out from the bush; they divided themselves into 3 locations; some individuals fired at us and there was one other group in entrance to make it possible for we didn’t run away; they fired photographs at our automobile and finally, they kidnapped 3 of us.

“The communication man of the church was in a position to escape, the driving force was in a position to escape; they kidnapped me, the bishop of Owerri and my chaplain and so they took us to the bush and had been torturing us. It was within the means of that torture that I hit my proper eye on a tree. Even when blood was flowing and I used to be soaking my eyes with a handkerchief, they didn’t really feel like something occurred.

“All they stated was that we should always observe them; that they weren’t really in opposition to Nigerian residents however in opposition to the federal government, that the federal government is a nasty authorities.

“They’re Fulani boys; all of the 8 are Fulanis; they stated the day they are going to see the president or any of his representatives they are going to chew him uncooked; that he’s their brother however he has dissatisfied them and has dissatisfied Nigeria.

“I stated although I am a part of the federal government, I am a churchman, I am not a authorities official; they stated okay, that’s what has saved you, we’d have killed you outright with out asking for any ransom however now that you’re a churchman, let’s go contained in the bush.

“I trekked up for to fifteen kilometres however I knew that we had been rigmaroling, going up, taking place and finally at 11 pm they stated okay now we are able to negotiate; every of us pays N50 million and we’re going to pay N150 million. I assumed it was a joke; I stated we had been going to pay N10 million and so they stated what? Don’t say that; they lifted their knife to chop me, I stated please maintain on.”

In response to the cleric, the chief of the group is about 35 years outdated whereas the others are about 18.

He stated that they had taken his rings, chain, and the cash that they had on them and insisted on N150 million ransom.

The clergyman stated the abductors later decreased the ransom to N100 million, warning that in the event that they negotiate, they’d be killed.

“I stated okay. We pays you N100 million. After a while, they stated the place is the cash and I stated that is Sunday evening, how can we get cash this evening and that there’s this sit-at-home in Igbo land. We will not afford the cash now, be affected person until morning, we are going to make contacts.”

Uche stated the abductors misplaced endurance, laid Bishop Dennis Mark down, raised a knife to chop him, whereas one other pointed a gun at him (prelate) to point out that they had been critical,

“I informed them we are going to increase the cash for you. However the irony of it, the place they had been located, the troopers, all of Fulani extraction, Nigerian troopers, they had been there at Lomara junction and these boys had been going behind them. In the meantime, they saved their cows someplace, numbering about 200.

He stated some individuals had been taking good care of the cows whereas the abductors had been parading them across the bush till they settled at a spot,

“They stated ‘when are you bringing the cash?’ I stated by 12 midday, I’ll name the individuals I’ve contacted whether or not the cash had been raised and I known as them, they stated that they had been gathering the cash and so they heard it as a result of they stated I’ll use my telephone to speak, they cannot use their telephone, they don’t wish to be tracked.

“Their chief was born in Igbo land however his mother and father have died. He stated he was born round Umuahia Amuzukwu and his father was a cow seller, the boy understood Igbo,” he stated.

He stated the chief threatened to kill them in the event that they knowledgeable safety operatives once they had raised the ransom of N100 million.

The chief requested them to purchase 5 ‘Ghana should go’ baggage and put N20 million in every bag. They left to choose the ransom whereas 4 others stayed behind with weapons.

He stated, “Round 5. 30pm, the youngest boy who I believe is a youthful brother to their commander stated ‘Oga, congratulations, you’re free, you possibly can go now. Now we have bought our cash, you possibly can go. Let me present you the highway’.

“They took us to Outdated highway, the place they wrote ‘welcome to Imo’ and ‘goodbye from Abia’.

“They informed us that after shopping for sufficient weapons, they had been going to carry all these folks that had been pushed away from Zamfara, Katsina, Sambisa Forest, that they’re all coming to find themselves in Igbo land and cope with us.

“He stated have you learnt Ibadan expressway? We’re in all of the bush there, we’re additionally within the South-South, we’re ready for the slightest sign, we are going to end you individuals and take over this land. They claimed that Nigeria belongs to Fulani.”

The priest maintained that army personnel of Fulani extraction had been aiding the abductors who disguise as herders within the daytime however are kidnappers at evening.

He known as on the federal government to take a decisive motion “in any other case what is going on within the north will probably be a baby’s play”.

He stated it was the Methodist Church Nigeria and members of the church that made efforts to safe his launch and never safety businesses of the federal government.