Ransom money has been paid for a former Dundee priest kidnapped at gunpoint by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The kidnappers broke their promise, however, and would not release Father Jean-Pierre Ndulani and his two fellow captives from the Order of the Augustinians of the Assumption.
The disturbing development has been revealed in a communication sent to The Courier by the Congo Embassy in London but contains hope they are still alive.
They forwarded the report of meetings between senior figures in the Catholic Church in Congo held this month on the security situation in the Beni area of the country, which is in the grip of lawlessness.
Those present included the Rev Milenge Mwenelwata, national vice-president of the Catholic Church in Congo and Father Paluku Vianney, regional superior of the Congregation of the Assumptionists in the state capital of Kinshasa.
A Congolese priest, Fr Ndulani had been chaplain at Wellburn Home in Lochee, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, for six years and left in September to return to his homeland.
On October 19 in the Parish of Our Lady of the Poor parish church house in Mbau in the east of the country, he and two other priests were kidnapped by robbers. The priests had been watching television when the intruders burst in and took them.
People at the church raised the alarm, notifying regional and national government agencies and according to the report “searched for them everywhere”.
Eventually, telephone contact was made with the abductors, who said they were two days away but would not disclose their exact location.
“They asked for some silver (money) to liberate the three priests,” said the report, with sums of $15,000 to $20,000 being mentioned.The report said a large sum was raised without the promises being honoured.
“They give the date, set the hour and the place with strategies for the recovery of the priests but they do not respect their statements.”
The church has appealed for information through its parishes in Congo about the kidnapped priests but people are not coming forward because they fear they will be killed by the rebels if they do so.
The report gives gruesome examples of the lawlessness rife in the area and explains there are an estimated 70 armed groups who do not attack each other but target populations in villages.
The three priests are understood to have been abducted because the kidnappers believe the Catholic Church is powerful and the kidnapping will win them influence.
The report concludes diplomatic efforts are under way to try to bring law and order to that part of Congo.
The Diocese of Dunkeld acknowledged the latest development but declined to comment.
Mother Aimee, superior of the Little Sisters of the Poor, said, “We continue to pray for Father Jean-Pierre and his colleagues.”
The Foreign Office are aware of the case but they have had no direct involvement as Father Jean-Pierre is not a UK national.