Police rescue kidnapped Imo Catholic Bishop, driver

Six days after he was abducted, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Bishop Moses Chikwe has been rescued with his driver.

The police rescued the cleric unhurt as a result of a sting operation embarked upon by the tactical squad of the Imo State Police Command led by its Anti Kidnapping Unit.

Bishop Chikwe and his driver Ndubuisi Robert were said to have been rescued on Thursday evening at about 10pm after spending six days in the den of the kidnappers.

The bishop was kidnapped together with his driver on December 27.

The police in a statement by the command’s spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu, said the hoodlums also on the day kidnapped one 33-year old lady, Chioma Ekwedike, at Imo Housing Estate Umuguma, Owerri West LGA in front of her residence.

Head and the Officer in Charge of the state police command, newly promoted AIG Isaac O. Akinmoyede, was said to have activated all the tactical teams in the command, and charged them to rescue the Bishop and others, and arrest the hoodlums responsible for the act.

He said that a combined unit of all the tactical teams on the December 31, 2020 stormed Awara, Ohaji/Egbema LGA and Omuku creeks and arrested some of the criminals with some incriminating items recovered from them.

According to him, the arrest of the suspects and other coordinated operations by the command led to the kidnappers abandoning victims, leading to the rescue of the bishop and two other victims unhurt and without payment of any ransom.

He said that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the notorious kidnapping syndicate.

“It is noteworthy to mention that an online media platform last week came up with the news of the death of the Bishop. In the online report, it was claimed that the Auxiliary Bishop was beheaded and his head and decapitated body recovered somewhere in Anambra State.

He, therefore, warned against such speculative and junk reporting especially on social media as such is capable of causing a breach of peace.

The command also commended the public and the Christian community for their understanding and support during the period and the confidence reposed in the Nigeria Police to resolve the crime.

“We however wish to assure everyone that the Command remains capable of protecting all law-abiding citizens of the state,” it stated.

Meanwhile, Archbishop of Owerri, Anthony Obinna, in a statement Saturday expressed gratitude to God for the release of the bishop.

He also thanked Pope Francis for mentioning the incident in his new year message and the prayer of cardinals and bishops including the Christian communities and all Nigerians during the period of the captivity.