Barely 48 hours after he was freed by armed gunmen in Owerri, Imo State, Professor Herbert Batta, a lecturer in the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) in Akwa Ibom State has expressed deep appreciation to God for intervening in his case.
LEADERSHIP gathered the lecturer was kidnapped on Tuesday afternoon while returning from a trip outside of his base in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The university don was freed after three hours in the den of armed herders without harm or payment of ransom amid intense prayer and pleading with his captors.
Thanking God after regaining his freedom and safe return to his base in Uyo, Prof. Batta, narrated his grueling three hours of isolation from the social community.
He declared that his constant resort to prayers and the prayers of concerned well-wishers were his saving grace during the turbulent three-hour period in the captivity of armed herders.
Thanking God, his colleagues and those who prayed for him, Batta said prayers shorted what could have turned out to be a long, harrowing experience to a short three-hour abduction.
“Thanks so much for all your fervent prayers and good wishes. What could have turned out as a long, harrowing torture spelling doom for health and finances turned out to be a miraculously short three-hour abduction by armed herders.
“No physical hurts, no ransom, no bloody rescue. I prayed to God and appealed to the kidnappers, and freedom came. We prayed, and God did it. Thanks to you all, Glory to God. May your candle burn bright and let your life taste and smell sweet. God bless you all,” the elated Professor said.
LEADERSHIP recalls that a colleague of the abducted don, Professor Charles Obot broken the news of his freedom on Wednesday where he disclosed that Prof. Batta had been rescued from the dungeon of the kidnappers and was kept at an Owerri Police station.
“My colleague and brother, Professor Herbert Batta who was kidnapped yesterday (Tuesday) in Owerri on his way back from a trip, has just spoken with me from a Police Station in Owerri after being released or rescued.“
