The gunmen who kidnapped an Imo Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Kingsley Eze, and his driver, Uchennna Newman, have demanded N10 million to release the hostages. It was gathered that the kidnappers had earlier demanded N50 million to free the priest and the driver.
Fr. Eze is the parish priest of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Umuekebi, Osuowerre, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. Recall that gunmen abducted the priest and his driver on Thursday night near Orieama Junction. They also shot an onlooker, who was taken to an unidentified hospital. A parishioner, who did not want to be identified, told newsmen on Wednesday that the kidnappers had reduced the N50 million demand to N10 million.
He revealed that the kidnappers contacted the driver’s wife on Sunday and Monday and demanded N50 million. According to the parishioner, the kidnappers got in touch again on Wednesday and dropped the ransom to N10 million. The source said, “They called the driver’s wife on Sunday and Monday and made a demand of N50 million. But I learned that they have called again and reduced the amount to N10 million.
