AFRICA/NIGERIA - Priest kidnapped on June 8 has been released, no ransom was paid

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Don Emmanuel Akingbade, the pastor of St. Benedict in Ido-Ekiti (in southwestern Nigeria), kidnapped on 8 June (see Fides 11/06/2015) has been released. This was confirmed to the local press by His Exc. Mgr. Felix Ajakaye, Bishop of Ekiti, stating that the priest was released on June 16 after negotiations with the kidnappers. The latter had asked for a large sum of money in order to release Don Emmanuel, but the Bishop told them that the Church is not an institution for profit and therefore does not have much economic resources.
Mgr. Ajakaye said that no ransom was paid to obtain the release of Don. Emmanuel, but he did not add any other details. The Church of Ekiti celebrated a thanksgiving Mass in the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Abuja. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/06/2015)