African bishop held for ransom

Nigeria: January 29, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

An Anglican bishop has been kidnapped in Nigeria's southern state of Edo shortly after saying mass, a Christian leader said on Monday. Bishop Peter Imasuen,of Benin City, was ambushed and seized as he arrived home from church on Sunday.

Samuel Salifu, secretary general of the Christian Association of Nigeria, told AFP: "We understand the kidnappers are asking for 15 million naira (about US$100,000)."

However, other reports put the ransom as high as 50 million Nigerian naira (over US$330,000).

Kidnapping for ransom is common in Nigeria, but Bishop Imasuen's abduction comes just a week after clashes between Muslims and Christians left nearly 500 people dead in and around the central city of Jos. The Nigerian Anglican church accounts for 17 million of the world's 77 million Anglicans.

The Nigerian Tribune reported on Monday that Bishop Imasuen was "trailed" all the way to his residence, where the suspected gunmen managed to lock the gatekeeper in his security outpost and force their way into complex. They pulled the prelate from his car and took him away.

The bishop's abduction comes just days after the local governor's request to withdraw soldiers and special forces from the streets. The servicemen were initially put in place to curb the city's attacks and abductions. The bishop is reportedly the first victim of kidnapping since then.

In addition to his post as the head of the Archdiocese of Benin, Bishop Imasuen is also the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria which claims on its website to be "the largest ecumenical body ever established in Nigeria and, indeed, Africa."

Representatives from the Anglican Church of Benin City were unavailable for comment.

News source: www.anglicantaonga.org.nz