Jonathan vows to secure release of kidnapped Anglican archbishop

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has vowed that the Federal Government will do everything possible to ensure the release of the kidnapped Anglican cleric, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey of Niger Delta Diocese.

In making the vow, the president disclosed that he has already met the heads of security agencies in the country with a view to work out plans on how to ensure quick release of the high-ranking priest and bring the abductors to book.

Speaking while delivering a message at the standing committee meeting of St. Peter’s Deanery, Yenagoa, Jonathan expressed worry that Bishop Kattey remained in the kidnappers’ den.

He said: “Speaking of crime and insecurity in the country, it is a matter of personal pain and regret to me that the Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, the Bishop of the Province of the Niger Delta, is not with us today because he is still being held by abductors.

“It is quite worrisome that such inhuman crime as kidnapping has now taken root in our society. It certainly calls for real soul searching and re-evaluation of our entire value system,” he added. - Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria's second-highest ranking Anglican archbishop, seized more than a week ago close to the southern oil city of Port Harcourt, has been released, police said on Sunday.

State police spokeswoman, Angela Agabe, confirmed to AFP that Archbishop Ignatius Kattey was set free at 20:00 (1900 GMT) on Saturday.

However, there were no details of where and how Kattey regained his freedom.

He was kidnapped along with his wife on the evening of September 6.

The wife was later abandoned in a bush by the pair's abductors, Agabe said.

A senior official of the church in the Niger Delta region, Israel Omosioni, told journalists that Kattey looked healthy after his release.

Kattey is the dean of archbishops of the Anglican communion in Nigeria, ranking him second to the primate of the Anglican Church in the country.

The cleric is archbishop of the Niger Delta province.

Agabe said police were not aware of any ransom fee being paid.

She also confirmed that Kattey was "in a stable condition". AFP

Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, has described the Rivers State police command’s claim that it rescued him from his abductors as a lie.

Bishop Kattey, who is also the Dean of the Nigerian Anglican Communion, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at Eleme, Rivers State.

The cleric, who commended the federal and the Rivers State governments as well as security agencies in the state, however charged government to give more attention to security issues in the country.

Kattey, who said he was unaware of any ransom paid to his abductors, also said he had forgiven those who abducted him and subjected him to the harsh experiences he went through for the nine days he was a hostage.

On the claims by the police to have rescued him from his abductors, Bishop Kattey said “the police did not rescue me. They were not the ones who rescued my wife, Beatrice. I saw the police for the first time two days ago since the incident. I have heard the statements made by the Rivers PPRO. The police are telling lies. If you cannot trust the police again, then who can you trust? I told the Commissioner of Police and he has apologised.

“I know they made efforts but they did not rescue me and my wife. A helicopter flew over the area more than 500 times, but the boys (kidnappers) were smarter. They held me with them in a thick forest and no one could see me there. 

On the day of my release (Saturday, Sepember14), they moved me and we trekked a number of kilometers till we got to a road. Then they gave me N200 and ordered me to walk to the direction where I could get a bike. We thank God for His mercies because I wouldn’t even wish my enemy to go through that experience,” the senior cleric said. - Tribune