A Catholic priest, Marcellinus Okide, who was kidnapped on Sunday by gunmen in Enugu State, has regained freedom.
According to Premium Times, the Chancellor/Secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Chidi Agubuchie, confirmed his release in a statement, Friday morning.
It was gathered the cleric was released at about 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Punch Metro had reported that Mr Okide was kidnapped alongside six other persons at about 5 p.m. along Eke-Egede-Affa-Akpakwume Nze Road in Udi Local Government Area of the state.
The cleric is the parish priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Amofia-Agu Affa and was said to be on his way to the parish when he was abducted by the hoodlums.
The statement said, “We are glad to inform you that our brother and priest, Fr Marcellinus Obioma Okide, has been released from the den of the kidnappers,” he said.
Mr Agubuchie, a Catholic priest, said the leadership of the diocese was grateful to God for his protection over the released cleric and to all Catholic faithful for their prayers throughout the “difficult period.”
On Monday, the spokesperson of the diocese, Anthony Aneke, had confirmed to newsmen that the kidnappers contacted the church authority for ransom, but did not mention the amount demanded by the hoodlums.
In the statement on Friday, Mr Agubuchie, the diocesan secretary, did not mention if ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
It is not clear, for now, if the cleric was released alongside the six others.
Mr Aneke, the spokesperson of the diocese, did not respond to calls seeking his comments.
