We prayed for our kidnappers, says freed Revd Sister

One of the six freed Reverend Sisters kidnapped in Edo state yesterday narrated how they were praying for their abductors while in their custody.

Sister Veronica Ajayi described the experience as “horrible and painful.”

She spoke at a thanksgiving held at the Catholic Diocese of Benin Metropolitan.

It was held for the safe return of three Reverend Sisters and three aspiring Reverend Sisters from kidnappers den in Ovia South West Local Government Area.

Gunmen had on November 3rd at the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Convent in Iguoriakhi, Ovia South West Local Government Area abducted Sisters Veronica Ajayi, Roseline Isiocha, Frances Udi, Maria Massingne, Anne Ocheni and Vivian Iwhu.

The Sisters spent 53 days in the kidnappers den before they were rescued after their abductors fled.

Sister Ajayi said their constant prayers made one of the kidnappers wanted to learn the ways of God.

She said: “The experience with the kidnappers has helped me to trust in God more. This experienced will help me to help others keep their faith in God. We were sleeping when they came. When they were taking us away, I kept trusting that God has a reason for it. We were praying for the kidnappers.

“They also say their own prayers. One of them wanted to learn our prayers. They did not say why we were kidnapped. We were praying for their conversion.”

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, said the new security architecture being planned with security chiefs would secure all parts of the state.

Shaibu said: “We already have security architecture with the security chiefs which we are working on to ensure all parts of the state is secured.

“With the policy government has put in place for employment and expand our economy, we will be able to pull out a lot of these youth to the labour market. Kidnapping will be eradicated in Edo.”

Archbishop of Benin Catholic Diocese, Bishop Obinna Akubeze, urged the federal government to treat criminality as criminality.

Bishop Akubeze said the mass was to thank God for answering their prayers they offered in faith.

Akubeze said the government should act as a government when in dealing with crimes and issues of herdsmen.

He said: “Six of our sisters were kidnapped by unknown gunmen and we have been praying. We are thanking God for answering our prayers. Our prayers were effective and they were freed. We thanked the police and DSS. They really worked. The youths should be given jobs.

“With faith in God, we saw it through. The government should act as government. They should treat criminality as criminality and all these nonsense of killing, kidnappings will stop. A herdsman cannot destroy your crops and kill you. Killing is a crime. Government should do their work.

“The kidnappers should repent. If they continue their way, God will forgive them and they will join the society again. Some people want them to be killed but we want them to repent and begin to behave like good citizens.”


































Thenationonline