Abducted Nasarawa CAN chairman, Bishop Masin, regains freedom

Chairman, Nasarawa State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN ), Bishop Joseph Masin, has been released by his abductors.

He was kidnapped on May 27 by unidentified gunmen who stormed his residence in the midnight at Bukan Sidi area of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, and took him away to an unknown destination.

One of the CAN Chairman’s sons, Pastor Sam Joseph, said: “The Bishop was released around 11 pm on Saturday and arrived home around 2am this Sunday.”

It is unknown if a ransom was paid or not.

A source said that the kidnappers had demanded for a ransom of N20 million a day after he was abducted.

Immediate past Secretary of the association, Elder Yohanna Samari, said the clergy was taken on a motorcycle when he was abducted by the gunmen in Lafia.

CAN had urged the federal government to deploy all necessary resources to ensure the prompt release of Bishop Masin.

CAN General Secretary, Barr. Joseph Bade Daramola, in Abuja, said the demand became imperative since the body ‘has no police’ of its own to secure his safe release.

“We will not accept losing another state chairman like we lost the late Adamawa State CAN chairman, Rev. Lawan Andimi, who was gruesomely murdered by terrorists while our security agencies appeared powerless, helpless and de-robbed of their armour,” he said.

He also demanded the immediate and permanent end of the ongoing ‘genocide’ in Southern Kaduna and other states in the country where similar crimes are ongoing. Clergymen and their family members have been targeted by kidnappers in Nigeria.

In March this year, kidnappers abducted the son and daughter of the presiding Pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Pastor Komolafe Amos, in Anguwar Wadata in Abaji, opposite the newly established Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), Abuja.

They were, however, set free a week after, according to a member of the victims’ family who preferred anonymity.

He told our reporter that they were set free after a ransom payment of N750, 000 to the kidnappers. There are many other cases all over the country this year alone.  (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Daily Trust)