Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria’s Niger Delta Province Kidnapped

On Friday evening, September 6, the Most Reverend Ignatius Ogb0ru Kattey and his wife, Beatrice, were kidnapped near their home in Eleme, Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State in the Niger Delta. A press statement from the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, the Primate of All Nigeria, indicates that Mrs. Kattey was released some hours later, but that the Archbishop is still being held by the kidnappers. One Nigeria newspaper quotes the state’s governor, who laments that the kidnapping is just another indication of how Rivers State is “sinking into anarchy.”

As the bishop of Niger Delta North and the archbishop of Niger Delta, Kattey, 65, is the second most senior leader of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Anglican Ink reports, “While driving to Port Harcourt on the evening of 6 Sept 2013 to attend a meeting of the Church of Nigeria’s Standing Committee, the archbishops car was stopped on the round at approximately 10:30 pm by gunmen in Eleme.  A Rivers State police spokesman told the News Agency of Nigeria the kidnappers abandoned the car and Mrs. Kattey and fled into the bush with the archbishop.”

No group has claimed responsibility for abducting Kattey, but the BBC reports that kidnapping for ransom has become common “in the oil-rich Delta region.” Even so, many Nigerians believe that the kidnapping of church leaders is especially heinous. At an inter-denominational thanksgiving service to celebrate Port Harcourt’s Centenary, Rivers State’s Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, spoke on behalf of the Governor, the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, about the kidnapping. Governor Amaechi said, “it is very unimaginable that our Bishop whose only asset is in Lord’s vineyard could be so abducted.” He called on the clergy to pray for the government and people of the state, and stressed that “the times are very challenging,” and “the only way we can plan for the next 100 years for the state and our children is through prayers.”

According to George Conger at Anglican Ink, the Diocese of Niger Delta North announced at a September 8 press conference that they would not pay a ransom for the archbishop. “The Ven. Richard Opara, president of the diocesan clergy council said that while no ransom demand had been received, the diocese would not negotiate with criminals,” said Conger. Opara said that no contact had been made with archbishop’s captors. “We are only asking for his unconditional release. We are not happy and the Church of Nigeria is weeping because the number two man has been taken away,” said the archdeacon, according to Conger.

Conger said that Archbishop Kattey is the third bishop to be kidnapped in three years. In 2010, two bishops were kidnapped and returned unharmed. In January of 2010, the Rt. Rev. Peter Imasuen, Bishop of Benin was kidnapped at his home in Benin City, Edo State and released four days later. In September 2010, the Rt. Rev. Christian Ebisike, Bishop of Ngbo, was stopped at a roadblock while traveling and was kidnapped. He was released the next day. It is not known if any ransom was paid in either case.

Nigeria’s PM News provided details of Kattey’s biography in their coverage of the kidnapping, as follows:

Most Rev. Ignatius Crosby Ogborun Kattey (Justice of the Peace) was born in the small Nchia Town called Alode in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State on 23 August, 1948. His father was  Chief Amos Kattey who was himself a devout Christian, church leader, produce merchant, trader, farmer and Government Recognized Second Class Traditional Ruler of Nchia Kingdom. His mother was  Mrs. Margaret Ada Kattey.

He attended St. Paul’s Catholic School Obigbo (now Oyigbo) from 1954 to 1959. For his secondary education,  he attended the  National High School Aba and graduated with a Grade One in West African School Certificate Examination.

He had his university education at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1976.

Arch. Bishop Kattey was born-again in 1971 through the ministry of the Scripture Union. He is the Chairman, All Anglican Clergy Conference of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and also the Chairman of Christian Council of Nigeria, South Area Council.

Please pray for the Lord’s protection for Archbishop Kattey, and for his safe return. The Church in Nigeria has suffered greatly for the Gospel of Christ, particularly in northern Nigeria. Ask God’s mercy upon this situation, and for the Church in general.