After days after dare-devil gunmen abducted the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Most Rev Ignatius Kattey, at the Eleme axis of the East-West Road, the kidnappers are yet to establish contact with the family of the second highest officer of the Anglican Church in Nigeria or made ransom demand.
The Tide gathered that all efforts by the family, the entire church and the Eleme community to reach out to the kidnappers have proved abortive, even as the Rivers State Government and the state Police Command have reassured that the revered Archbishop would soon be released.
While the state government had assured that it would do everything within its powers to ensure the release of Bishop Kattey unhurt, the police command has also expressed commitment to secure the unconditional release of the cleric as soon as possible.
The assurances are, however, coming against the backdrop of calls by the Lay Readers of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, and the people of Eleme, the bishop’s community, for the immediate and unconditional release of their kidnapped Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.
Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi assured yesterday that the state government would do everything to ensure the unconditional release of the bishop.
Secretary to Rivers State Government, George Feyii, who represented the governor during a visit to the bishop’s family, yesterday, assured that the government was working round the clock to secure the release of Bishop Kattey, unhurt.
In the same token, Police Public Relations Officer, Angela Agabe, told The Tide in an interview yesterday that police operatives were gradually closing in on the abductors.
Agabe said that fresh information on Monday night indicated that the kidnapped priest would soon breathe the air of freedom, noting that the police were combing all the nooks and crannies of the state in search of the bishop.
Meanwhile, lay readers in the Diocese of the Niger Delta North, have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Archbishop Kattey.
Rising from a prayer meeting at the Cathedral of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, yesterday, the lay readers said that the criminality in the kidnap of the man of God was the height of national disgrace and embarrassment.
In a release signed by the Chairman, Diocesan Lay Readers Association, Sir Kelvin Obi and Secretary, Chris Okocha, described the dastardly act as a fight against God.
The association, which condemned the rising spate of criminality in the state, appealed to all Christian faithfuls to remain committed in prayers towards the safety of the Archbishop, and demanded for his unconditional release from the den of the dare-devil gunmen.
While expressing confidence in the efficacy of divine intervention in these trying times, the lay readers also called on security agencies to intensify their efforts towards the release of the man of God.
The lay readers, who numbered more than 150 at the prayer session, also prayed against darkness in the land.
Similarly, the people of Eleme have threatened to destroy roads, bridges, and other facilities in the area, if their illustrious kinsman is not released unhurt within 24 hours.
They issued the warning last Monday during a peaceful protest organised to press home their demand for the unconditional release of Archbishop Ignatius Kattey.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has enjoined Christian religious leaders to intensify prayers for the unconditional  release of the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger Delta, Most Reverend  Ignatius Kattey.
Amaechi spoke yesterday when he paid a sympathy visit to the family of Archbishop Ignatius  Kattey at his residence in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
He said his administration was doing everything humanly possible to ensure the unconditional release of Archbishop Kattey.
“This administration wants to assure you that, it identifies with this family because the kidnap of the Archbishop is a very serious matter and it has compelled us to identify with the family, and right now, everything is on track to ensure that Kattey returns to continue his assignment with God.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii, Amaechi urged the  family of Bishop Kattey to remain strong in their prayer life and trust in the Lord for His  intervention and release of the kidnapped Anglican Archbishop by unknown gunmen.
Governor Amaechi further appealed to the kidnappers of Bishop Kattey to urgently effect his  release to enable him continue his ecclesiastical call to the service of God and humanity, which  he stressed, was for the benefit of all Nigerians and betterment of society.
Responding, wife of the Archbishop, Mrs Beatrice Ignatius Kattey while thanking Governor Amaechi for the visit prayed for God’s intervention and unconditional release of her husband by the kidnappers.
“My husband is a man of God that preaches peace, he believes in God and wherever he is, God  is with him, we are sure he will be well, but he should be released”, Mrs Beatrice Kattey said.
Wife of the Anglican Bishop also expressed regrets over the security lapses in the state and called for serious concern and attention to avert future re-occurrences.
Also speaking, Chancellor of the Diocese of the North, Sir Emeka Ichioku in his vote of thanks expressed confidence that Archbishop Ignatius Kattey would return to his family hale and healthy.
Earlier, Chairman of Clergy Association of the Diocese of the Anglican Communion of Niger Delta North, Venerable Richard Okpara also offered prayers for the family of Archbishop Kattey and God’s intervention for his unconditional release.
Similarly, Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Gininwa has condemned the kidnap of Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger Delta and Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, describing it as an evil against God and humanity.
King Gininwa in a statement signed in Port Harcourt last Monday wondered what the perpetrators of such menace would achieve by abducting God’s own servant in their quest for material wealth.
He called on his abductors to release him unconditionally because “Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey has spent all his life serving God and humanity”, saying that it was callous of such individuals to have kidnapped a servant of God of no mean repute, a second in-command of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria.
According to the Gbenemene Tai, it has become so sad, the present deteriorating security situation in the state, adding that only a few weeks ago, another illustrious son of Ogoniland, the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Fred Igwe,  escaped assassination.
King Gininwa, therefore, appealed to the police and other security agencies in the state to intensify their efforts for the release of Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey while maintaining adequate security in Rivers State, and called on all men of goodwill to also pray for divine intervention in the matter.