The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the abduction of the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Kanu-Uche, the Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Dennis Mark and the Prelate’s Chaplain, and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order their immediate rescue.

This is as the abductors of the Clerics have demanded the sum of N100 million as ransom. They were whisked off by gunmen on Sunday in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. They were abducted while they were on their way from a programme in the council area.

The statement from CAN to Buhari, on Monday, titled: “CAN asks Buhari to order immediate rescue of Methodist Prelate, two others,’’ was signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant, Media and Communications to the President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle.

CAN appealed to Buhari to give an order to the security agencies to “free them immediately and stop the incessant abduction of clerics and other innocent Nigerians forthwith.”

The CAN statement reads in part, “If a great Servant of God of Uche’s calibre could be kidnapped like a three-year-old baby on a major road without any resistance from the police, it speaks volumes of what our security architecture has become.

“No fewer than 10 clerics have been kidnapped this year alone and none was rescued by the security agencies.

“In two instances, the victims were killed by their captors, unfortunately!

“This situation is not good for our nation at all,’’ CAN said.

The association called on Buhari to do all within his powers to get these servants of God released very soon and unhurt.

“We call on Christians and other well-meaning Nigerians to join us in praying for their release immediately,’’ CAN said.