The Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu-Uche, who was abducted by hoodlums in Abia State, has confirmed that the church paid a sum of N100m to secure his freedom.

The Prelate told newsmen on Tuesday that to secure his release, the abductors made him to call his Church members, family and friends to raise the sum of one hundred million Naira (N100million) demanded.

Some reports also quoted him as confirming that he “was beaten by his abductors,” even as the heavily armedmen “threatened to kill him if the N100 million was not paid immediately.”

Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu,  in a statement on Monday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, however stated that their release was through “grace of God, the fervent prayers of the Christian Community and the well-coordinated response from security agencies in Abia State”.

The statement read, “The Governor is grateful to God for His saving grace upon the Prelate, who is a son of Abia State.

 “Ikpeazu assured that security will be stepped up around the Isuikwuato – Umunneochi axis of the State where there has, in the recent past, been a spike in the activities of criminals…. The Governor called for Inter State Collaboration with the neighboring states in securing those areas and stamp out the activities of criminals there.”

NewsOrient reports that Kanu-Uche was abducted on Sunday along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

The head of the Methodist Church Nigeria was not kidnapped alone. He was, in fact, abducted alongside his chaplain, Very Rev. Abidemi Shittu, and the Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark.