By Oluwatosin Maliki
In a recent development, a priest identified as Reverend Fr Kingsley Eze and his driver, Uchenna Newman have regained freedom after being held captive for 7 days by bandits.
Quest Times gathered that Reverend Fr Kingsley Eze is a parish priest of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in the Umuekebi community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
The incident unfolded when gunmen on Thursday last week, kidnapped the cleric alongside his driver who arrived at Orieama junction around 8 pm with a Volvo jeep to buy some items, when they were suddenly whisked away as they alighted from the vehicle.
Although it was not disclosed if any ransom was paid to secure the release of the priest and his driver, a source had claimed that the victims paid N500,000 as ransom hence, the victims returned home on Friday unharmed.
“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,” the source said.
Meanwhile, 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.”
Following the abduction of the victims, the kidnappers had on Sunday and Monday, contacted the wife of the driver and demanded a N50 million ransom for the release of the duo.
It was further learned that they later called and reduced the price tag to N10m.
The state police command has not issued any statement as regards the release of the priest and his driver.