Those who kidnapped the parish priest of St Michael’s Catholic Church Umuekebi in the Osuowerre autonomous community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo state, Rev Fr Kingsley Eze, popularly known as father Ichie and his driver, Uchennna Newman have placed a N10M ransom.
Gunmen had on Thursday night kidnapped the duo at Orieama junction, robbed shop owners at the scene before fleeing with their targets.
They also shot an onlooker who was rushed to an disclosed hospital.
The priest and Newman, who drove the priest in a Volvo jeep were kidnapped at Orie ama junction around 8pm on Thursday.
A parishioner who doesn’t want to be mentioned told our correspondent on Wednesday that their abductors had reduced the N50M ransom placed on the victims heads to N10m.
He said that the kidnappers had contacted the driver’s wife on Sunday and Monday, respectively and made a demand of N50m.
The distrust parishioner said that the kidnappers also called on Wednesday and reduced the amount to N10M.
The source said” they called the driver’s wife on Sunday and Monday respectively and made a demand of N50m. But I learnt that they have called again and reduced the amount to N10M. Where will the poor priest and the other person get that kind of amount from?. Let nothing happens to them. We pray for their safe return.”