The gunmen, who abducted the wife of the Anglican Bishop of the Ikeduru Diocese in Imo State, Anuri Maduwuike, have set her free.

She was released after an undisclosed amount was purportedly paid as ransom.

The bishop’s wife, who was waylaid and abducted on Friday at Ekemele, while she was going home from Owerri, was reportedly set free on Sunday by her abductors.

A source in the church, who did not want his name in print, told one of our correspondents on Monday that the kidnappers had earlier demanded N8m as ransom.

The source, who refused to disclose how much was paid for the woman to regain her freedom, said she was not released without payment.

He said,

“To the glory of God, our bishop’s wife has been released. She was released on Sunday. Her kidnappers had initially demanded N8m ransom.

“God answered our prayer and she was released unhurt. She has been reunited with her family. It was not a happy moment for the church of God. The diocese was in a sad mood until she was released.”

Our correspondent gathered that the bishop, Emmanuel Maduwuike, had a week before the abduction of his wife launched one of his books.

A source told our correspondent that the kidnappers might have thought that the bishop realised a huge amount of money from the book launch.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, could not be reached for comments, but a police source, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the cleric wife’s release.