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world news Diasabra 4 Juni 2022

Nigerian police seek abductors of prelate freed after ransom

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — between 2011 and 2020, ac-
Nigeria’s police on Friday cording to the Lagos-based
said they are still looking SBM intelligence research
for suspects in the abduc- firm.
tion of the head of the Nigeria’s federal authori-
Methodist Church Nige- ties have been trying to stop
ria who was freed in ex- the abductions for some
change for a ransom of 100 time, most recently through
million naira ($240,600). legislation to ban ransoms.
The country’s Senate said it
Samuel Kanu Uche was freed would “turn around not only
on Monday, a day after he was the security situation in Ni-
kidnapped in Abia in south- geria but even the economic
east Nigeria, the Christian fortunes of our country.”
Association of Nigeria said. Earlier this month, federal
Security forces “are still look- authorities also barred calls
ing out for the suspects” from more than 70 million
who abducted Uche, police unregistered phone lines in
spokesman Geoffrey Ogbon- an attempt to target kidnap-
na said. pers and make it difficult for
“When the incident hap- them to contact the families
pened, policemen were de- of those held. But kidnap-
ployed to that area and up till pers have found a way to get
now, they are still there,” the around that measure, analysts
police spokesman said, add- say.
ing that the prelate “went to places; some people were at som was paid into an account “The primary purpose of The prelate’s abduction
Lagos as soon as he regained the back, some were at the provided by the kidnappers, government is to secure lives prompted fresh concerns
his freedom.” center and there was another he said. Police have denied and property. Any govern- over Nigeria’s worsening se-
The cleric described his ab- group in front to make sure knowledge of the ransom. ment that has failed in that curity as there are numerous
duction at a briefing in Lagos that we didn’t run away. They Uche criticized the govern- has failed woefully,” Uche kidnappings and the military
this week. fired shots at our vehicles ment for the deterioration said after his release. battles a decade-long extrem-
“These people came out from and they eventually abducted of the country’s security that Nigeria’s kidnap-for-ransom ist insurgency in the north-
the bush,” Uche said. “They three of us.” has allowed kidnappers to business has seen more than east and widespread banditry
divided themselves into three Uche was freed after the ran- flourish. $18 million in ransoms paid in the northwest.

100 speeches in 100 days of war: Zelenskyy

rallies Ukraine

As Ukrainian President soothing, a deep, confidential also has given interviews to
Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells almost-whisper as he looks journalists. He held a news
it, when Russia invaded directly into the camera. Or conference in the safety of
100 days ago, no one ex- forceful, rising in moral out- the Kyiv subway.
pected his country to sur- rage as he condemns the most But his nightly video address
vive. World leaders ad- recent Russian atrocities and has been his favored channel
vised him to flee. insists that those responsible for informing and inspiring
will be punished. his fellow citizens.
“But they didn’t know us,” As the days and weeks have He often begins with an exu-
he said in a late-night video ticked by, his unshaven face berant greeting to Ukrainians
address in April when the has grown a dark beard. He as “the free people of a brave
war hit its 50th day. “And has lost his boyish looks. country” or “the invincible
they didn’t know how brave The puffiness from sleep- people of our great country.”
Ukrainians are, how much less nights as Russian troops He invariably ends with a de-
we value freedom.” marched on the capital was fiant “Glory to Ukraine.” did not fall within days as dicts and neo-Nazis” of Zel-
He could have been speaking replaced by new resolve He tells them of the world Russia expected, he said on enskyy’s government. He has
about himself. No one knew when the invasion stalled. leaders he has spoken with April 14, was because mil- ignored Zelenskyy’s calls for
how a 44-year-old man who From the start of the war during the day and his efforts lions of Ukrainians “made a meeting.
had catapulted himself from he has dressed in various to get those leaders to send the most important decision Back in June 2019, shortly
the world of entertainment shades of army green, ap- more and better weapons, to of their life – to fight.” after Zelenskyy was elected
into the presidency would re- pearing most often in a sim- inflict ever more punishing He also has tried to reach a president, Putin was asked
spond to an invasion by Rus- ple T-shirt. The impression sanctions on Russia. Russian audience, as on April why he hadn’t congratulated
sia’s giant army. he leaves is clear: He’s fresh He speaks to his fellow 1 when he switched from the new Ukrainian leader. In
His response has been force- from the fight and about to Ukrainians’ anger and pain Ukrainian into Russian to a condescending response,
ful — and compellingly pub- get back to it. from the devastation of the urge Russians to keep their Putin seemed to write off the
lic. Zelenskyy has led his A tireless and skilled com- country, the untold deaths. sons away from the war. actor-turned-president.
country in mounting an un- municator, Zelenskyy has “My heart breaks from what “We do not need new dead “Well, it’s one thing to play
expectedly fierce resistance. spoken by video link to the Russia is doing to our peo- people here,” he said. “Take someone and another to be
Every night, he rallies Ukrai- United Nations, British Par- ple,” he said on March 16 care of your children so they someone,” Putin said. “The
nians to the fight with a vid- liament, U.S. Congress and after Russian bombs killed do not become villains, do important thing is to have the
eo address on social media. about two dozen other par- hundreds sheltering in a the- not send them to the army. courage and the character to
There have been 100 so far liaments around the world, ater in Mariupol. Do whatever you can to keep take responsibility. He hasn’t
– one for each day of the war as well as to the Cannes He salutes their courage and them alive. At home.” shown his character yet.”
— in nightly reminders that Film Festival and America’s says he never gets tired of In justifying the invasion, For 100 nights, that character
he has not fled, that Ukraine Grammy Awards. Rarely if thanking all those fighting Russian President Vladi- has been shown to Ukraini-
has indeed survived. ever has a man without a tie to determine the future of mir Putin says he is saving ans and the world. And to
His actor-trained voice can be addressed so many VIPs. He Ukraine. That the country Ukraine from the “drug ad- Putin.