We were in church
on Tuesday 17th June about 1pm when they came in armed with guns.
Having surrounded us they stripped us of handsets and demanded money. “There is no money in the church” was the
response. “What is money compared to your
lives?” they demanded. Workers were in the church that day, involved in the
ceiling completion. So not believing the response they asked for the money with
which they were to be paid. There was actually no bulk cash to pay the workers
that day so no cash was given.
“Where is the pastor?” I was brought out,
manhandled and taken to my car. They demanded the tracker code which I gave
them. The car could be inactivated remotely with it. When they saw it was
correct they were pleased and commended me. My ATM card was stolen and the
password collected. I was bound hand and foot with ropes, and my singlet torn
out and used as a blindfold over my face. Placing me at the floor of the Toyota
Highlander face down at the back, my body was used as a foot-mat and they sped
off.
Brethren were
alerted and prayers began to ascend unto heaven. On the way I was aware when we
passed a police check point. My captors passed through without my being
detected, and after driving for some time I was brought out and placed under
guard in the bush. A fellow priest
passing by the check point at that time saw my vehicle, and that the police
passed the car on. He didn’t realize at first I had been kidnapped. After
the vehicle passed he got the text message informing him of it. He was
confused. “Was it not Ikenna that just
passed?” he wondered. A ransom of five million naira was demanded for my
release. My guard was very hard on me, brutalizing my head with the butt of his
gun. Even when I did not move he would say he saw me move and hit me. I was not
afraid to die; I know where I am going and let him know that.
It was now a
while I had not heard any sound from my captor. A stick in the bush close to my
face enabled me push off the blindfold. I was in a gulley like place. No one
could see me from the road. I could also not see any of them around. Getting
unto my belly I worked the binds on my legs loose. I then rolled out of the
place under cover and worked on the wrist binders. It was not easy as I was
tied behind my back, but eventually I was free! Still no captor in sight, I
took to running off in the bush. I emerged at UNTH at Ituku. I had been
kidnapped in Enugu. A covered tricycle (keke NAPEP) came by and I flagged him
down. He was uneasy at seeing me (I was shirtless) but when he learned I had
been kidnapped he took me away from there. I had thought to drop at 4 corners’
junction but he advised the kidnappers may come there looking for me, expecting
that I go there for a drop. So we moved further ahead.
When I came to
the police check point the kidnappers had passed I reproached the officers
there. The police being alerted mobilized to intercept the thieves. From the
information by the tracker they were on their way to Port Harcourt where they
were apprehended trying to change the screen of the vehicle. No money was lost
to them; my wife had alerted the bank and my ATM card had been immediately
inactivated. I have since appeared on TV with the culprits in custody. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
and every tongue that shall rise against
thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. Is 54:17(KJV).
Rev Canon Ikenna Nwachukwu is the priest –in-
charge, church of Pentecost Igbariam, Enugu
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