Rescued Bishop Chikwe, Weak; Driver Hospitalised |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

The abducted and, now, rescued Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, His Lordship Moses Chikwe, is stable, but weak because of his experiences in the hands  of his abductors. His driver is, also, hospitalised because of a deep matchet cut he received from the hoodlums who abducted him and his boss.

These were disclosed in a release, personally, signed by the Archbishop of Owerri  Catholic Archdiocese, His Grace, Anthony Obinna.

Bishop Chikwe was abducted, along with his driver on, Sunday, December 27, as he drove out of his premises at Site and Services, World Bank area Owerri.

His abduction was greeted by an outrage. On Wednesday, the Catholic Women of the Diocese shut down Owerri in a peaceful protest asking  for his release.

Finally, Bishop Chikwe was rescued on New Year’s day, January 1st, and, he arrived his residence at about 10.00pm.  Obinna, in the release, said he arrived Chikwe’s residence at 10.45pm, and met a weak man, with an unbroken spirit. But the Archbishop said the Bishop’s driver was not around because he was rushed to the hospital over  deep matchet cuts he received in the hands of the kidnappers.

The Archbishop said the rescue operation which culminated in the release was made possible by the Imo State Government, using a combination of the Imo Police and the DSS Commands, as well as the Chief Security Officer, Anambra State Government.

In its own reaction, the Imo state Police Command said the rescue operation was as a result of a sting operation.

At the time of writing this, it was not yet confirmed if any ransome was paid, or where they were rescued from.

But a few days ago, a fake story had gone viral that the Bishop had been killed and beheaded in a forest in Nkpo, Anambra State.

That gives an inkling that perhaps, the Bishop must have been rescued from somewhere in Anambra State.