Nesta mesma declaração, o arcebispo agradeceu ao Santo Padre, o Papa Francisco, por mencionar o cativeiro do Bispo Moses Chikwe e do Sr. Ndubuisi Robert e orar por sua libertação em sua Mensagem do Angelus de ano novo na Cidade do Vaticano, poucas horas antes de eles recuperarem sua liberdade. .
Uma coisa é certa: o Bispo Auxiliar da Arquidiocese Católica de Owerri, Dom Moses Chikwe, foi resgatado ileso em consequência de uma severa operação empreendida pelo esquadrão tático do Comando da Polícia do país liderado pela Unidade Anti-Sequestro. O Diretor do JDPC da Arquidiocese de Owerri informou à AGÊNCIA DE NOTÍCIAS RECOWACERAO que a prisão dos suspeitos e outras operações coordenadas pelo Comando fizeram com que os sequestradores abandonassem as vítimas, resultando no resgate do Bispo e de duas outras vítimas ilesas e sem pagamento de resgate . Esforços estão em andamento para prender os membros em fuga do notório sindicato de sequestros.
É importante mencionar que uma plataforma de mídia online apareceu na semana passada com a notícia da morte do Bispo. No relatório online, foi alegado que o Bispo Auxiliar foi decapitado e sua cabeça e corpo decapitado recuperados em algum lugar no estado de Anambra. O Comando, portanto, deseja alertar contra tais especulativos e relatos de lixo, especialmente nas redes sociais, pois são capazes de causar uma quebra da paz. O Comando também pede informações do público sobre crimes e criminalidades em sua área, para permitir que a polícia tome medidas rápidas e decisivas.
Anteriormente, o site do jornal nigeriano The Sun relatou que o bispo foi sequestrado “ao lado de seu motorista em seu carro oficial” e que o veículo “foi posteriormente devolvido à rotatória de Assumpta, perto da casa do arcebispo, enquanto os ocupantes eram levados para um destino desconhecido. ”
O conselho presidencial da RECOWA-CERAO, sob a sólida liderança do Arcebispo Ignatius Ayau Kaigama e de todos os bispos da Nigéria, respectivamente, pediu oração pela segurança e libertação de Chikwe de 53 anos. A AGÊNCIA DE NOTÍCIAS RECOWACERAO também reuniu que os católicos do sul da Califórnia, onde o bispo Chikwe serviu por vários anos como sacerdote na diocese de San Diego, antes de retornar ao seu país, também oraram pelo retorno seguro do bispo.
De fato, é digno de lembrar que o Bispo Chikwe foi ordenado sacerdote em 6 de julho de 1996, na Nigéria, após o qual fez seu mestrado em administração educacional na Loyola Marymount University em Los Angeles, e seu PPh.D. em educação em UCLA. Chikwe serviu por seis anos como padre residente na Catedral de São José no centro de San Diego e no V.A. Hospital em La Jolla como capelão. Ele também costumava celebrar missa na paróquia de São Marcos em San Marcos, Califórnia.
Ele voltou para sua diocese de origem, onde se tornou diretor de educação e foi eleito e ordenado bispo auxiliar da Arquidiocese de Owerri em 12 de dezembro de 2019.
Quando a triste notícia de sua aparente morte estourou em 29 de dezembro de 2020, foi imediatamente seguida por uma contra-declaração fortemente formulada pelo arcebispo Anthony Obinna de Owerri. Assinado pelo secretário adjunto, pe. Njezi, o arcebispo Obinna exortou “todos os fiéis de Cristo e pessoas de boa vontade” a desconsiderar os relatos de que os sequestradores mataram o bispo Chikwe. “Esta informação não é confirmada, enganosa e não provém da Arquidiocese Católica de Owerri”, acrescentou.
AGÊNCIA DE NOTÍCIAS RECOWACERAO, RECONA lembra que o sequestro do Bispo Chikwe parecia ser o mais recente de uma série de sequestros que visaram o clero na Nigéria, uma vez que os sequestros anteriores envolveram padres e seminaristas, não bispos.
Repetimos com tristeza que no início deste mês, o Departamento de Estado dos EUA listou a Nigéria entre os piores países para a liberdade religiosa, descrevendo a nação da África Ocidental como um “país de particular preocupação (CPC)” Esta é uma designação formal reservada para nações onde as piores violações da liberdade religiosa estão ocorrendo, os outros países sendo China, Coréia do Norte e Arábia Saudita.
L’équipe de reporters de RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA Worldwide, dont l’attention s’est concentrée sur l’enlèvement d’un évêque nigérian Moses Chikwe, annonce avec joie la libération de ce serviteur de Dieu. Lors d’une conversation téléphonique avec le secrétaire adjoint de l’archidiocèse catholique d’Owerri, le P. Nnaemeka Njezi, AGENCE DE PRESSE RECOWACERAO, RECONA, a appris que l’évêque auxiliaire de 53 ans qui a été enlevé dimanche 27 décembre a été libéré indemne. Tous les efforts déployés pour atteindre l’archevêque catholique d’Owerri se sont avérés vains. Dans une déclaration signée par l’archevêque, Mgr Anthony JV Obinna et mise à la disposition du correspondant de RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, basée à Lagos, la capitale commerciale du Nigéria, il a été révélé que l’évêque auxiliaire était revenu vers 22 heures, heure du Nigéria. La déclaration se lisait en partie: «Avec gratitude envers Dieu, j’informe par la présente tous les fidèles du Christ et les gens de bonne volonté du monde entier que vers 22h00 le premier jour de janvier 2021, Sa Seigneurie, le Révérend Moïse Chikwe et M. Ndubuisi Robert , son chauffeur, enlevé dans la soirée du dimanche 27 décembre 2020 a finalement été relâché… »
Dans cette même déclaration, l’archevêque a remercié le Saint-Père, le pape François d’avoir mentionné la captivité de Mgr Moses Chikwe et de M. Ndubuisi Robert et de prier pour leur libération lors de son nouvel an Angelus Message à la Cité du Vatican quelques heures avant qu’ils ne retrouvent leur liberté. .
Une chose est certaine, l’évêque auxiliaire de l’archidiocèse catholique d’Owerri, Mgr Moses Chikwe a été sauvé indemne à la suite d’une opération sévère lancée par l’équipe tactique du commandement de la police dans le pays dirigée par l’Unité anti-enlèvement. Le directeur du JDPC de l’archidiocèse d’Owerri a informé RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY que l’arrestation des suspects et d’autres opérations coordonnées par le commandement ont conduit les ravisseurs à abandonner des victimes, ce qui a permis de secourir l’évêque et deux autres victimes indemnes et sans paiement d’aucune rançon. . Des efforts sont en cours pour arrêter les membres en fuite du célèbre syndicat des enlèvements.
Il est à noter qu’une plateforme médiatique en ligne a annoncé la semaine dernière la nouvelle de la mort de l’évêque. Dans le rapport en ligne, il a été affirmé que l’évêque auxiliaire avait été décapité et que sa tête et son corps décapité avaient été retrouvés quelque part dans l’État d’Anambra. Le Commandement souhaite donc mettre en garde contre de tels reportages spéculatifs et indésirables, en particulier dans les médias sociaux, en tant que tels, susceptibles de provoquer une rupture de la paix. Le Commandement demande également aux membres du public des informations sur la criminalité et les délits dans leur région afin de permettre à la police de prendre des mesures rapides et décisives.
Auparavant, le site Internet du journal nigérian The Sun avait rapporté que l’évêque avait été enlevé «aux côtés de son chauffeur dans sa voiture officielle» et que le véhicule «avait ensuite été renvoyé au rond-point d’Assumpta, près de la maison de l’archevêque, tandis que les occupants étaient emmenés dans un destination inconnue. »
Le conseil présidentiel de RECOWA-CERAO, sous la direction solide de l’archevêque Ignatius Ayau Kaigama et de l’ensemble des évêques du Nigéria, avait respectivement exhorté la prière pour la sécurité et la libération de Chikwe, 53 ans. L’AGENCE DE NOUVELLES DE RECOWACERAO a également constaté que les catholiques du sud de la Californie, où Mgr Chikwe a servi pendant plusieurs années en tant que prêtre dans le diocèse de San Diego, avant de retourner dans son pays, avaient également prié pour le bon retour de l’évêque.
Il convient en effet de rappeler que Mgr Chikwe a été ordonné prêtre le 6 juillet 1996 au Nigéria, après quoi il a obtenu sa maîtrise en administration de l’éducation à l’Université Loyola Marymount de Los Angeles et son doctorat en éducation à UCLA. Chikwe a servi pendant six ans comme prêtre en résidence à la cathédrale Saint-Joseph du centre-ville de San Diego et au V.A. Hôpital de La Jolla comme aumônier. Il a également souvent dit la messe à la paroisse Saint-Marc de San Marcos, en Californie.
Il est retourné dans son diocèse d’origine où il est devenu directeur de l’éducation et a été élu et ordonné évêque auxiliaire de l’archidiocèse d’Owerri le 12 décembre 2019.
Lorsque la triste nouvelle de sa mort apparente a éclaté le 29 décembre 2020, elle a été immédiatement suivie d’une contre-déclaration fortement formulée de l’archevêque Anthony Obinna d’Owerri. Signé par le secrétaire adjoint, le P. Njezi, l’archevêque Obinna a exhorté «tous les fidèles du Christ et les gens de bonne volonté» à ne pas tenir compte des informations selon lesquelles les ravisseurs avaient tué l’évêque Chikwe. «Cette information n’est pas confirmée, trompeuse et ne provient pas de l’archidiocèse catholique d’Owerri», a-t-il ajouté.
L’AGENCE DE NOUVELLES DE RECOWACERAO, RECONA rappelle que l’enlèvement de Mgr Chikwe semblait être le dernier d’une série d’enlèvements qui ont visé le clergé au Nigéria, depuis que les enlèvements précédents ont impliqué des prêtres et des séminaristes, et non des évêques.
Répétons avec tristesse qu’au début du mois, le Département d’État des États-Unis d’Amérique a classé le Nigéria parmi les pires pays en matière de liberté religieuse, décrivant la nation ouest-africaine comme un « pays particulièrement préoccupant (CPC) ». Il s’agit d’une désignation officielle réservée aux pays où se produisent les pires violations de la liberté religieuse, les autres pays étant la Chine, la Corée du Nord et l’Arabie saoudite.
A team of reporters from RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA worldwide, whose attention has been focused on the Kidnap of a Nigerian Bishop Moses Chikwe, joyfully announce the release of this servant of God. In a telephone conversation with the Assistant Secretary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Fr. Nnaemeka Njezi, RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, gathered that the 53-year-old auxiliary bishop who was kidnapped on Sunday, the 27the day of December, has been released unharmed. All efforts made to reach the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri proved abortive. In a statement signed by the Archbishop, Most Reverend Anthony JV Obinna and made available to the Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, based in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, it was revealed that the auxiliary bishop returned about 10.00 pm Nigeria time. The statement read in part, «With gratitude to God, I hereby inform all Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill everywhere that about 10. 00 pm on the first day of January 2021, His Lordship, Most Rev. Moses Chikwe and Mr. Ndubuisi Robert, his driver, who were abducted in the evening of Sunday, the 27th December 2020 were finally released…”
In this same statement, the Archbishop thanked the Holy Father, Pope Francis for mentioning the captivity of Bishop Moses Chikwe and Mr. Ndubuisi Robert and praying for their release at his new year Angelus Message at the City of Vatican just hours before they regained their freedom.
One thing is certain, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Bishop Moses Chikwe has been rescued unhurt as a result of a stern operation embarked upon by the tactical squad of the Police Command in the country led by the Anti Kidnapping Unit. The J D P C Director of the Archdiocese of Owerri informed RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY that the arrest of the suspects and other coordinated operations by the Command led to the kidnappers abandoning victims, leading to the rescue of the Bishop and two other victims unhurt and without payment of any ransom. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the notorious kidnapping syndicate.
It is noteworthy to mention that an online media platform last week came up with the news of the death of the Bishop. In the online report, it was claimed that the Auxiliary Bishop was beheaded and his head and decapitated body recovered somewhere in Anambra state. The Command, therefore, wishes to warn against such speculative and junk reporting especially in social media as such is capable of causing a breach of peace. The Command also calls for information from the members of the public concerning crime and criminalities in their area to enable the police to take prompt and decisive actions.
Earlier on, the website of the Nigerian newspaper The Sun had reported that the bishop was kidnapped “alongside his driver in his official car” and that the vehicle “was later returned to Assumpta roundabout, near the Archbishop’s house while the occupants were taken to an unknown destination.”
The presidential council of RECOWA-CERAO, under the solid leadership of Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama and the entire bishops of Nigeria, had respectively urged prayer for the 53-year-old Chikwe’s safety and release. RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY also gathered that Catholics in southern California where Bishop Chikwe served for several years as a priest in the Diocese of San Diego, before returning to his country had also been praying for the bishop’s safe return.
It is indeed worthy to recall that Bishop Chikwe was ordained a priest on July 6, 1996, in Nigeria, after which he proceeded for his master’s degree in educational administration at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, and his PPh.D.in education at UCLA. Chikwe served for six years as a priest in residence at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown San Diego and at the V.A. Hospital in La Jolla as a chaplain. He also frequently said Mass at St. Mark’s parish in San Marcos, California.
He returned to his home diocese where he became director of education and was elected and ordained auxiliary bishop of Owerri Archdiocese on December 12, 2019.
When the sad news of his apparent death broke out on December 29, 2020, it was immediately followed up by a strongly worded counter statement by Archbishop Anthony Obinna of Owerri. Signed by the assistant Secretary, Fr. Njezi, Archbishop Obinna urged “all Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill” to disregard reports that the kidnappers had killed Bishop Chikwe. “This information is unconfirmed, misleading, and does not come from the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri,” he added.
RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA recalls that Bishop Chikwe’s abduction seemed to be the latest in a series of kidnappings that have targeted the clergy in Nigeria, since previous abductions have involved Priests and Seminarians, not Bishops.
Let us repeat with sadness that earlier this month, the U.S.A State Department listed Nigeria among the worst countries for religious freedom, describing the West African nation as a “country of particular concern (CPC).” This is a formal designation reserved for nations where the worst violations of religious freedom are taking place, the other countries being China, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
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