The head of the Methodist church in Nigeria and two other clerics have been freed after being abducted on Sunday.

Samuel Kanu was travelling with the Bishop of the Methodist Church, Owerri Diocese, and the prelate’s chaplain when they were kidnapped as they left a church programme in the south eastern state of Abia.

A church official told the BBC they were released yesterday evening leading to jubilation among Nigeria's Christian community.

It's unclear if any ransom was paid to secure their release.

Nigeria is seeing a wave of abductions of members of the clergy and religious faithful. The Boko Haram Islamic extremist group is behind many of the attacks, but unidentified gunmen are responsible for a growing number of security threats.   

In April, a new law banned the paying of ransoms due to the regular kidnappings taking place across Nigeria. 

Dr David Landrum, Head of Advocacy at Open Doors, has been keeping a close eye on the escalating situation. 

He's concerned that - due to the ongoing conflicts elsewhere - the attacks in Nigeria aren't receiving the attention they require. 

He said: "I think we're generally desensitised to what's happened in Nigeria, because we hear so many reports of so many atrocities that it's kind of 'that's what happens there.' 

"So we don't pay any attention. 

"I'm not saying this about Christians, because I do think the church is praying and speaking out and being vocal, and we need to do more of that."

He continued: "There are nearly half a billion people in West Africa and if this pattern continues of the insurgency spreading from one nation to the other, we could see the biggest humanitarian disaster the world's ever seen; unprecedented. 

"It would dwarf Syria in terms of people movements.

"So we're trying to wake up the international community to act and to do something to focus on security, and really press the Nigerian government, particularly ahead of the elections next February, to make security the security of their own people the number one priority"