My abductors knelt before me for prayers — Freed Pastor

Founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Apostle John Okoriko, who was freed after four days in captivity, says his kidnappers requested prayers before letting him off the hook.

Okoriko, who was kidnapped at his residence in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, revealed that two of the five man gang who abducted him knelt down before him to seek prayers.

Narrating his experience to church members, the octogenarian said the kidnappers tortured him so that he could accept to pay the initial N100 million ransom demanded.

“The torture was much. They did terrible things to my body to force me to bring money to them. I told them I have not seen such money in my entire life.”

“They told me I am the richest pastor in Akwa Ibom. They did all manner of things to me. Out of the five man gang that abducted me, two of them knelt down and asked me to pray for them before they released me in the evening to go,” he said.

Apostle Okoriko commended the former Chairman of the State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Prelate Emeritus of Methodist Church, Sunday Mbang, and founder of Believers Assembly, Apostle Isaiah Isong, for their roles in ensuring his release.

He said the duo set up a team of people who gathered to pray for him.

Okoriko said after his release, he first visited the capital ground of his church because it was close to the kidnappers den, and Prelate Sunday Mbang, the next morning, following the dream he had about Mbang.

“That night, I saw my father who died in 1990 sitting in place like a court session with great men and women. When he talked to me, he turned to Prelate Sunday Mbang. In the morning, I showed myself to Prelate Mbang and prostrated before him and told him my experiences. Quoting the scripture from Psalm 129: 2; I told him that from my youth, people have attacked me but they never prevailed over me,” he added.  (Daily Trust)