A ransom note has been delivered to the diocese in the African republic of Congo where former Dundee priest Father Jean-Pierre Ndulani was kidnapped at gunpoint by rebel troops on Friday.
Father Ndulani (52) was one of three Catholic priests captured by the armed raiders, who broke into the Notre-Dame des Pauvres Parish Church house in Mbau, 70km from Butmebo in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is believed the rebel gang were members of the Congo-based ADF-Nalu Allied Democratic Forces and the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda although doubt has already been cast on who the perpetrators are.
According to reports from a Congolese news agency, Monsignor Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku, in whose diocese the three Assumptionist fathers were kidnapped, said: ”We received a phone call from a person claiming to belong to the group that kidnapped the three religious, with a ransom note.”
The bishop is cautious about the reliability of the reports, however.
He said: ”We are still waiting to find a reliable channel for dialogue with the kidnappers.”
The Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) issued a statement condemning the kidnapping.
His Excellency Mgr Nicolas Djomo, Bishop of Tsumbe and president of CENCO, strongly condemned the kidnapping of the three religious priests, who had been recently appointed to the parish of Mbau.
He also said he ”appeals to the kidnappers who committed this unacceptable act to safeguard the physical and moral integrity of the three priests and free them without conditions to enable them to continue their pastoral service and assistance to the people of Mbau.”
Father Ndulani had been chaplain at Wellburn Home for the Elderly in Dundee for six years. He left his post in September.
Bishop Vincent Logan of the Diocese of Dunkeld said last night: ”I am sure the Church and Bishop Sikuli Paluku will do everything they can to ensure the safe return of the priests.
”I can assure the bishop of the prayerful support of the priests and people of the Diocese of Dunkeld at this most difficult time.”