Retired Archbishop of Nnewi Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev Godwin Okpala, who just regained his freedom after he was kidnapped on December 6, 2024, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of his abductors.
Okpala was abducted alongside his driver, but was only able to regain freedom on January 3rd, after spending 27 days in captivity.
The clergyman spoke to journalists at his residence in Nnewi, during a visit by former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.
He said: “Those 27 days were hellish because the people were not behaving like human beings. They kicked us about like thrash.
“They kept us in a very thick forest and none of them cared,” the Archbishop said.
Reacting to questions on whether his abduction was as a result of mistaken identity, and whether he was in his priestly attire, the retired prelate said it didn’t matter to the kidnappers who anyone was.
He said: “I was in my cassock and they knew that I was a Bishop, but they didn’t care. They pulled down my cassock, asked me to undress and I had only shorts, a shirt and my collar on.
“For the 27 days that I was with them, I didn’t take my bath, I didn’t brush my teeth. They were giving me water which I don’t know the source.
“They were giving me one meal a day and it was either rice or garri. The food was usually remnants from those they gave to boys who worked with them. They have cooks who prepared food there.”
The 75 years old Archbishop praised Peter Obi for coming to visit him, saying that since his return from the kidnappers’ den, no one had visited him until Obi came.
“He (Peter Obi) has again shown the humanity in him. I’m not the first person he is coming to see in this manner. I want to say thank you to Peter Obi who came to visit me after my travails.”
Meanwhile, Nnewi Catholic Diocese on Thursday buried three priests of the diocese, including Rev. Fr. Tobias Okonkwo, a pharmacist and native of Ekwulumili in Nnewi South Local Government Area.
The priest was murdered on December 26, 2024, in Ihiala, Anambra State, by gunmen operating in the area.
Until his death, the priest was the manager of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ihiala.
Anambra has for sometime now been in the news because of the spate of kidnapping, which has not abated despite promises by the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and police authorities in the state.
