$200,000 demanded for safe release of the Bishop of Gwagwalada

A ransom demand has been made for the safe release of the Bishop of Gwagwalada, the Primate of All Nigeria, the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh told reporters today. On 3 Sept 2015 the Rt. Rev. Moses Bukpe-Tabwaye was kidnapped near the border between Edo and Delta States in Southern Nigeria. Archbishop Okoh reports that bishop’s captors are demanding 40 million Naira (approximately $200,000) for his release. According to a report printed by the News Agency of Nigeria, Archbishop Okoh told church wokers on 5 Sept 2015: “I urge all of you Christians to be very vigilant and security conscious where-ever you find yourselves. The issue of kidnapping is rampant in the country but we can still curtail the menace if we are vigilant.’’ He added that: “If we fail to live together as brothers in prayers, we shall perish as fools, so we should endeavour to be our brothers’ keepers.” Church, civic leaders and prominent businessmen have been abducted for ransom by criminal gangs in recent years. In Sept 2013 the number two man in the Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey was abducted and later released, while Archbishop Okoh’s predecessor, the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, (pictured) was abducted by criminals in Dec. 2013 but managed to escape his captors.