A former archbishop of the Province of the Niger, Anglican Communion, and retired bishop of Nnewi Diocese, the Most Rev Godwin Okpala, who was freed from kidnappers’ den after 27 days in captivity, has spoken for the first time since his release.
Archbishop Okpala was kidnapped on December 6, 2024, alongside his driver. Fortunately, they regained freedom on January 3rd after spending 27 days in captivity.
Speaking with newsmen in his Nnewi residence during a visit to to console him over his ordeal by former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, the prelate said those 27 days were hellish because his abductors were not behaving like human beings.
According to him, they kept him alongside other persons abducted in a thick forest with no meaningful attention and kicked them about like thrash.
Reacting to questions on whether his abduction was 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, and 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-year-old Archbishop praised Mr 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.”
