The retired Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop Diocese of Nnewi, Anglican Communion, The Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala (rtd) and his driver has reportedly regained his freedom from their abductor around 2am (WAT) today 2nd of January 2025.
The Most Prof. Okpala regained his freedom alongside his driver 25 days after his abduction in Umuchu where he had gone to attend the burial ceremony.
The retired 75-year-old clergyman was the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Nnewi before he became Archbishop of the Province of the Niger.
Archbishop Okpala confirmed his release through a post on his facebook handle on Thursday morning. The Archbishop, who had not been active on his social media handle since his kidnap, however, made a post titled, “Praise the Lord” on his official Facebook page, signifying his freedom.
This was immediately followed by hundreds of reactions from people, thanking God for his freedom.
The Archbishop’s release and that of his driver is also being celebrated on the media platforms of many Anglican churches and Dioceses in the state and beyond.
On the new year day service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Abuja, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba repeatedly asked members of the Church to continue to pray for the release of the retired Archbishop who have spent 4 weeks in the kidnappers den.
It would be recalled that the respected retired Archbishop, Prof. Okpala, and his driver were last seen on Friday Morning, December 6, on their way to attend a burial ceremony in Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, The Rt. Rev’d Ndubisi Obi who broke the news of their disappearance to the public by calling for intense prayers indicated that since then, the Archbishop and his driver never arrived at their destination nor returned, as their whereabouts remained unknown, while all attempts to establish contact with him or the driver were unsuccessful.
While speculations abound that the Archbishop and his driver might have been kidnapped by gunmen on their way to the burial, this development not only added to the already existing tension in Anambra state, but also plunged the Anglican faithful, particularly in the Nnewi Diocese, and his hometown of Adazi-Ani, into a state of deep anxiety and restlessness.
Many indigenes of Anambra state had raised concern over the silence of both the police and the government of the state on the kidnap of the cleric.
Newsmen noted that the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, a Superintendent of Police, said the command does not have any official information about the kidnap and the release of the Archbishop and his driver.
