Press Release: MOSOP happy with Release of Archbishop Kattey by Kidnappers

Posted by African Examiner Press Releases Monday, September 16th, 2013

The Dean of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) heartily welcomes the reported release from captivity, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria and Anglican Archbishop of the Niger Delta North Diocese, His Grace, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey by his captors. The Archbishop was kidnapped lasFriday and kept incommunicado until he regained freedom.

Reacting to the release of the man of God, the President of MOSOP, Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara said today in Port Harcourt:

“While we thank God for his release, his abduction was senseless, criminal and violated his fundamental human right and freedom. It appears to us that there may have been some hidden motives behind the kidnap as the level of silence the kidnappers kept all through the period of his captivity, has been quite unusual. We do not see how this acclaimed humble gentle man who has spent his entire life promoting peace and love in the service of God and had hurt no one should have merited such evil treatment. The abduction, no doubt, was a regrettable affront against the Almighty God and which consequences are weightier than whatever may have informed the crime”.

“It is appalling that people have under the pretext of the visible challenges fencing us all in this country to misdirect their thoughts and energies to criminality in their mindless inclination to sadism and acquisition of wealth. Consequently, they mortgage their conscience and allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous elements in the society to inflict pain on innocent citizens.”

MOSOP would like to advice the security agencies to redouble their efforts in terms of intelligence gathering to foster superior response to the rising sophistication of the men of the underworld.

Meanwhile, the apex body of the Ogoni people has vehemently condemned the reported invasion of Ekporo village in Eleme Local Government Area of Ogoni by sophisticatedly armed attackers from Ogu community in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state. The raid has reportedly displaced the people as they flee the village for safety and are now taking refuge in neighbouring communities.

We are concerned and decry the resort to violence as the only seeming option in resolving whatever grievances. We have on several occasions warned that violence is an ill wind that blows no one any good as the consequences of such resort end up hurting both sides. It is therefore important that communities adopt dialogue in dealing with issues of conflict as the benefits are unquantifiable.

Whilst we reiterate our commitment to working with communities to resolve disputes, we call on all those involved in this matter to sheathe their swords to allow peace to reign, to enable peace initiatives aimed at finding enduring resolution of the matter to take place.