We would not be forced to pay any ransom, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rivers State, whose Arch-Bishop, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, was kidnapped last Friday by gunmen said on Sunday.
“No contact has been made with the captors. We will not pay any ransom. Ransom payment is not in our dictionary. We are only asking for his unconditional release. We are not happy and the church in
Nigeria is weeping because the number two man has been taken away.”
Kattey who is the Dean, Church of Nigeria and Arch-Bishop of the Niger Delta Province, as well as the Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North was kidnapped with his wife about 10:30pm along Aleto in Eleme Local Government Area of the state. His wife, Beatrice was later release
same day.
Addressing the press in Port-Harcourt, Council of the Clergy and the Council of Nights, Diocese of the Niger Delta North, condemned the kidnap and urged President Goodluck Jonathan, the Inspector General of Police and the Rivers State Governor intervene.
Chairman, Council of the Clergy, Diocese of the Niger Delta North, Anglican Communion, Venerable Richard Opara said the kidnap of the cleric came to the council as a shock, wondering what wrong he has done, even as he said kidnapping was a sin in the sight of God.
He said: “The kidnap of Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey and his wife,Beatrice came to the Diocese as a shock, his wife was released and he (Kattey) still in the custody of the abductors. “We wonder the offence of the religion and why an Episcopal divine of the standing of the Dean, Church of Nigeria, Arch-Bishop, Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, the Most Rev. Ignatius kattey will be abducted.
“The Holy book abhors kidnap and so is the church. We therefore demand for the unconditional release of the Dean, Church of Nigeria. We are therefore calling on the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the
Inspector General of Police, IGP, the Rivers State, Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to expedite action and ensure his release.”
President, Council of knights, Niger Delta North,Sir Charles Ovundu said: “We are appealing seriously to his captors to please in the name of God who created us all to release the servant of God who was on his way to carry out God’ s own service.
“We have not established any contact with the abductors. We want an unconditional release of his grace, the arch bishop. Ransom is not in our dictionary and we are not going to pay . We are asking for his
unconditional release so that the church can move forward”