Aba(Abia)—The Catholic Bishop of Aba in Abia State, Rt. Rev. Vincent Ezeonyia, has absolved Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Akwarandu of any complicity in kidnappings in his parish.

Akwarandu was detained by the Joint Military Taskforce, JTF, on the Niger Delta, for alleged complicity in kidnapping activities in the state.

The bishop said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Aba yesterday, that the Church had allowed security agents to conduct an investigation before his reaction.

Akwarandu was the Parish Priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, Umuezi in Obi Ngwa Local Government Area.
The parish is located within the neighbourhood where kidnappers operated.

He was detained on October 10 for allegedly aiding and abetting kidnapping in the state, but had since been released.
“On the contrary, while the process was still on, some media houses hurried to publish inflammatory statements on the matter.

“From all indications, even as the investigation is still subsisting, the truth has emerged that so far, nothing incriminating has been found against Akwarandu.

“Without any fear of contradiction, I wish to let the public know that Akwarandu does not know any of the kidnappers or had any business with them,’’ he said.

According to Ezeonyia, all the allegations against the priest are not true.

He remarked that the two alleged kidnappers reported to have been harboured in the church were those seeking refuge in their attempt to escape from the soldiers who were after them.

He said security agencies already knew about the kidnapping camp in Umuezi, and should not have expected Akwarandu to act as an informant, especially when there was no guarantee for his safety.

According to him, the allegations that five AK 47 rifles and three safes belonging to the kidnappers were found in the priest’s residence were unfounded.

“The Church respects whatever the government does to bring sanity to the state.
“The Church, however, takes exception to the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament and other damages done to it.

“However, in order not to scuttle the efforts of the government to rid Abia State of the menace of kidnapping, I earnestly appeal to Akwarandu and all Catholics to remain calm and forgive,’’ he remarked.