2 Soldiers, Okada rider among suspects arrested in the kidnap of Methodist Church Prelate

Two soldiers who were implicated in the kidnap of the Methodist Church Nigeria Prelate, His Eminence Samuel Kanu Uche, have been arrested.

The Prelate, along with the Methodist Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Rt. Reverend Dennis Mark and the Prelate’s chaplain were on Sunday May 29, 2022, kidnapped in Umunneochi Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia state.

His Eminence, Uche, later told journalists at Methodist Church Yaba, Lagos State that their abductors were Fulani, alleging that some personnel of the Nigerian Army of Fulani extraction were aiding the kidnappers in their activities.

According to the Prelate, “But the irony of it, where they were situated, the soldiers all of Fulani extraction, Nigerian soldiers, They were there at Lomara junction and these boys were going behind them. Meanwhile they kept their cows somewhere, numbering about 200.”

However, indicators have emerged that some suspects involved in the abduction have been nabbed by Nigeria Police operatives from Zone 9 headquarters, Umuahia, Abia State.

Pointblanknews.com sources said the break into the case occurred some days ago when one of the prime suspects was picked up at the bank as he made deposit of his own share of N20 million of the ransom paid by the Methodist Church for the release of the Prelate and the two other clergy with him.

A search at his Leru home by the security operatives led to the recovery of the sacred items taken from the Prelate during the kidnap.

After a preliminary investigation, he is said to have implicated two serving soldiers in his confession one of whom is said to be a Captain.

Sources say that the two soldiers have been arrested and may have been moved to Abuja for further investigations.

The prime suspect, who is an Okada rider, is from the same village in Enugu State as the kidnapped Prelate and may have been the mastermind who recruited others including criminal herders to carry out the abduction.