Two soldiers who were implicated in the kidnap of the Methodist Church Nigeria Prelate, His Eminence Samuel Kanu Uche, have been arrested.

The Prelate, along with the Methodist Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Rt. Rvd. Dennis Mark and the Prelate’s chaplain were on Sunday May 29, 2022, kidnapped in Umunneochi Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia state.

His Eminence, Uche, later told journalists at the Methodist Church Yaba, Lagos State that their abductors were Fulani, alleging that some personnel of the Nigerian Army of Fulani extraction were aiding the kidnappers in their activities.

But this revelation infuriated the Nigerian Army, who not only immediately absolved the Army, but threatened to arrest the Prelate for daring to link the Army to their abduction.

Similarly, the Police hierarchy disowned the statements by the Commander of the Police Tactical Team deployed to investigate the kidnap who in a viral video, while attempting to calm frayed nerves of youths of the area who wanted the Army out the place for allegedly aiding and abeting criminality.

The Inspector-General of Police had said the Police Commander was not authorised to speak, especially with a more senior police office who was on the assignment with him and so, indicted him.

He is currently facing Police disciplinary action.

According to the Prelate, “The irony of it (concerning their abduction), where they were situated (the kidnappers), the soldiers are all of Fulani extraction.

“They were there at Lomara junction and these boys were operating behind them. Meanwhile they kept their cows somewhere, and abducting people driving along the road without any intervention of the Soldiers.”

However, indicators have emerged that some suspects involved in the abduction have been nabbed by Nigeria Police operatives from Zone 9 headquarters, Umuahia, Abia State.

Sources had earlier informed that crack in the lead in the case was made some days ago when one of the prime suspects was picked up at the bank as he made deposit of his own share of N20 million of the ransom paid by the Methodist Church for the release of the Prelate and the two other clergy with him.

After preliminary investigation, the suspect was said to have implicated two serving soldiers.

Sources say the two soldiers have been arrested and may have been moved to Abuja for further investigation.

The prime suspect, who pretends to be an Okada rider, may have recruited others,  including the criminal herdsmen to carry out the abduction.