Community fasts, prays for abducted archbishop’s safe return

SEPTEMBER 14, 2013  

THE Archbishop of Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey

THE people of Alode Eleme in Rivers State have embarked on a three-day fasting and prayer over the abduction of their son and Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger Delta, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey.

Kattey, who is an indigene of Alode Eleme, was seized in Aleto Eleme on September 6, 2013 by unknown gunmen and taken to a yet-to-be ascertained destination.

For the past six days after the abduction of the cleric, who is also the Dean, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the people of Alode Eleme  have been in a mourning, but prayerful mood.

When Saturday PUNCH visited the area, some of the indigenes were moody over the sudden disappearance of their brother, father and uncle.

Though Kattey’s residence remained locked to journalists, many sympathisers, especially Anglicans, who came to commiserate with his family, trooped in and out of the one-storey building.

Even the corps members, who resided close to the clergyman’s house, were depressed by the incident, describing Kattey as a quintessential ‘man of God’.

One of the corps members, who spoke with our correspondent, expressed fears over the increasing level of kidnapping in Eleme Local Government Area.

The corps member, who craved anonymity, said that the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Felix Igwe, was shot by a group of unknown gunmen.

He explained that the deplorable state of Eleme Road was encouraging the kidnappers, saying “The road is dilapidated and it is difficult for vehicles to move easily.

“As a result of this, kidnappers lay ambush for their victims around the bad portions of the road and kidnap them. When you get to that Aleto bridge, you must apply the brakes because the road is bad.

“We are sad over the bishop that has been kidnapped for up to six days now and nothing is being done about it. The security situation in Elele is bad. Last time, the state Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Felix Igwe was shot in Eleme.

“Again, the entire people of Alode Eleme are not happy. You can see that they are moody because the bishop, who was kidnapped six days ago, has not been released. We heard this morning that they are demanding N10m as ransom.”

Also, an elderly man in the community, Mr. Augustine Percy Osaro, expressed sadness over Kattey’s abduction, praying that God would grant the cleric freedom so that he (Kattey) could continue with his service to Him.

Osaro, who said he worked with Archbishop Kattey in the mid-70s after the Civil War, told Saturday PUNCHthat indigenes of the area had embarked on prayers for the release of the cleric.

“We worked together in Assentia High School in Eleme when he was a vice principal. He was a head of laboratory and at a time, a senior tutor. That was around 1975 when we came back from the Civil War.

“He (Archbishop Kattey) is a nice and liberal man and he is a man of God right from his childhood days. He avoids involving himself in any form of trouble,” Osaro said.

Explaining that cases of kidnapping have risen to an unbearable level in Eleme, Osaro, who is in his late 60s, recalled that the aged mother of a lawmaker was kidnapped and later released.

He also said that one Allwell Osaro (not his relative), who was kidnapped about five months ago, had not been found since then.

“His (Kattey) abduction is the third we have experienced this year alone. The mother of Barrister Kamalu of the House of Assembly was sometime ago kidnapped, but she was released. She was an old woman.

“Another one is a member of my age grade and since he was kidnapped about five months ago, no one has seen him. His name is Allwell Osaro, a trader.

“Since 12 midnight, we have been praying. I am a strong prayer warrior. We have been praying that God should pour his cool water into the mind of the kidnappers so that our bishop can be released.

“We are highly in need of him. We have also been fasting since he was kidnapped. I have also been fasting because he (Kattey) is a good man. We pray for his immediate release,” Augustine Osaro added.

Speaking on efforts to rescue Kattey, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Agabe, said the Divisional Police Officer of Eleme and the Area Commander had just returned from the creeks in search of the cleric.

Agabe, who spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent, expressed optimism that the cleric would soon be released.

“We are working round the clock to ensure that he (Kattey) is released. The DPO, Eleme Police Station and the Area Commander just came back from the creek. They went in search of the person that was kidnapped,” she said.

The state police spokesperson added that no contact had been established with the kidnappers, even as she dismissed claims that the abductors had demanded for N10m ransom.