The Dean of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, who regained his freedom after eight days in captivity, has revealed that the Rivers State Police Command were economical with the truth when they claimed the glory for his release from his captors den.
Kattey and his wife, Beatrice were abducted on September 6 at Aleto, Eleme on their way to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
But his wife was later released that same night by the abductors, who escaped with the clergyman.
However, shortly after his release on Saturday evening, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Angela Agabe announced to journalists that the Archbishop was freed by the police in conjunction with other security agencies.
This position has been disputed by the clergy, who spoke at a Press conference in his private residence at Agbon-Nchia, Eleme, Rivers State, on Wednesday.
According to Kattey, his kidnappers released him of their own accord and attributed it to divine intervention because he knew people all over the world were praying for him to be freed.
Kattey said, “Police did not rescue me, they did not rescue my wife. I saw the police the first time two days ago, the police public relations officer lied.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, had apologized to him for the embarrassment the police spokesperson’s lies caused.
Kattey’s position corresponds with the disclosure by Venerable Israel Omosioni, the Archdeacon of Eleme Archdeaconry, who disclosed that the kidnappers gave the Archbishop N200 as transport fare, which he used to take a motorcycle back home.
However, Kattey acknowledged the spirited efforts of security agencies to secure his release as he recalled hearing the sound of helicopters hover above the forest where he was kept by his abductors but they could not see him.
He explained that under the circumstance, it would have been very difficult for the rescue team to find him as he was kept in a very thick forest and forced to lay down most of the time while he was being held by his abductors.
