The Nigerian army has denied complicity in Methodist Prelate, Samuel Kanu-Uche’s abduction.

The Prelate who addressed a press conference after his church paid N100m to secure his release, had said ”military personnel are aiding the kidnappers who disguise as herders in the daytime but are kidnappers at night.”

Kanu alleged that the Nigerian Army base in Lomara was working in cahoots with the “Fulani kidnappers” that abducted him in Umunneochi, Abia State.

Reacting to this, Army spokesman, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said the Methodist Prelate’s allegation is weighty.

The statement read “The insinuation that troops are complicit in the kidnap is not entirely premised on any findings of investigations and therefore cannot be swallowed hook line and sinker.

This allegation therefore raises some pertinent questions which are still unanswered.

“Given the spate of insecurity in the region, the question would be, was the issue reported to the unit covering the area?

Did the Methodist Church take the NA into confidence while negotiating the ransom with the kidnappers?

No formal complaint has been received by the unit.

“More worrisome is the fact that it was alleged that the ransom was paid in less than 24 hours.

Was the ransom paid to troops? These are questions that beg for answers.

“Moreso, the NA unit, has not received any debrief from the Prelate or the Methodist Church.”

Given our professional disposition and zero tolerance for any misconduct in the Nigerian Army, we will take this weighty allegation seriously and approach the Prelate and the Methodist church to unravel the basis for the allegation.”