The kidnapped Nigerian Archbishop who was freed over the weekend says he doesn't want his captors to be punished and he forgives them. Nigerian Police said Ignatius Kattey from the Diocese of Niger Delta North was released on Saturday evening when he was dropped off at a petrol station in Rivers State, near the southern city of Port Harcourt. He was in a stable condition. Archbishiop Ignatius has spoken to Archdeacon John Adubasim from the dioceses and told him he hopes the kidnappers will turn to God.
Premier's Marcus Jones spoke to Archdeacon Adubasim and started by asking him for his reaction to the news:
Archbishop Kattey and his wife Beatrice were seized close to their Port Harcourt residence on September 6th. However, his wife was released unharmed several hours later. The Archbishop of Canterbury is giving thanks following the safe release of the Archbishop. The day before his release, Most Revd Justin Welby urged the Church to pray for Archbishop Kattey and prayed to God to 'uphold the Archbishop in courage and faith' and 'bring him again to be with his family and friends in joy and freedom'. No group has said it's behind the kidnapping.
In a statement the Church of England Diocese in Europe said:
"Good news.
"After nine days in captivity, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger Delta in the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, was released by his captors last Saturday evening.
"Sources said Archbishop Kattey walked home alone after he regained his freedom from the unknown gunmen who abducted him.
"We give thanks for his freedom and return to his wife, family and Church community."