Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Samuel Kanu, has alleged that the eight-man gang who kidnapped him were Fulanis, who threatened to “chew” President Muhammadu Buhari “into pieces” because they were angry with his regime.

“They even said that if they get Buhari, they will chew him to pieces because he had disappointed them,” Mr Kanu said during a press conference after his release.

Mr Kanu, who was kidnapped alongside the bishop of Owerri, Dennis Mark and the prelate’s chaplain, also accused the military of complicity in their kidnap. He claimed soldiers were within the vicinity. 

“Where they are situated, there were soldiers all from Fulani extraction around the area at Nnoma junction, and these boys were going behind them,” the Methodist prelate claimed.

The cleric said the kidnappers, who spoke Fulfulde, had demanded N150 million ransom for their release but soon settled for N100 million after negotiation and threats. 

“I thought it was a joke. I said we are going to pay N10 million, and they said ‘what?’ They wanted to cut me but didn’t before showing me the decomposed bodies of those they had killed.”

Although the police had confirmed the release of the prelate and others, it did not disclose whether they paid a ransom to regain their freedom.

However, Mr Kanu said the Methodist Church of Nigeria raised the funds on Monday. He insisted that the police and the Nigerian Army did not make any effort to secure their release.

“The kidnappers instructed the church to package the money in five Ghana-must-go bags and make it N20 million in five places,” the Methodist spiritual head added.

The cleric said the kidnappers, between 18 and 25 years, had divided themselves into three groups before kidnapping them in the Umunneochi local government area of Abia.

The prelate disclosed that his driver and spokesperson for the church escaped when the Fulani kidnappers attacked them in the vehicle they were travelling in.

“They led us into the bush and tortured us. During the process, I hit my right eye on the tree and even when blood was flowing and my handkerchief was soaked with blood, they didn’t feel like anything happened,” explained the Methodist prelate.

Spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu, denied soldiers’ complicity in the kidnap and described the allegation as “not only spurious but outrageous.”