Kidnapped Owerri Catholic Bishop, Driver Rescued Five Days After

Most Rev. Moses Chikwe, the earlier kidnapped Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, and his driver have been rescued.

The clergyman and his driver was rescued alongside some other kidnapped victims without ransom, spokesman of the police in Imo, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed this on Friday.

He said the rescue is a sequel to a sting operation by men of the Imo State Police Command.

In a statement, the Archbishop of Owerri Diocese, the Most Rev. Anthony JV Obinna thanked the state police command for their efforts in the rescue.

He said, “His Lordship, Most Rev. Moses Chikwe and his driver, Ndubuisi Robert, who were abducted on the evening of Sunday, December 27 were finally released,”

He added that Bishop Chikwe was at his home resting after the traumatic experience while the driver had been taken to the hospital to treat a cut he was given by the kidnappers.

Earlier, the Owerri Archdiocese had asked the public to disregard rumours of the Bishop’s death, in a statement.

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The statement asked “All Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill at large to disregard the purported news feed by one Useni Yusuf at AI Press on the killing of the Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Moses Chikwe.

“This information is unconfirmed, misleading and does not come from the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.

“We continue to appeal that all join the archbishop in prayers for the release of Bishop Chikrnre and Mr Ndubuisi Robert, his driver,” the Church said.