Clement Ekpeye

The Rt. Revd Clement Nathan Ekpeye^[1] (DSSRS, JP, AP) Pioneer Bishop is an Anglican bishop in Nigeria:^[2] he is the current Bishop of Ahoada^[3] one of nine in the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta, itself one of 14 within the Church of Nigeria.^[4]

The Rt. Revd. Clement Nathan Ekpeye was consecrated Bishop of the newly created Anglican Diocese of Ahoada on 25 July 2004 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Abuja.

In 1952,a new diocese was carved out of the Niger Delta Protectorate and named Niger Delta Diocese and Ahoada and it's surroundings became part of this Diocese. Ahoada had a full parish church under the new Diocese, it became a district and later and Archdeaconry made up of Ekepye, Egene, Abua, Ogba, Egbema, Ndoni, Ahoada is now a Diocese on its own, hence it is now addressed as the Diocese of Ahoada from July 2004 with Saint Paul's Church as a Cathedral.

The idea for creation of new dioceses out of DNDN is rooted in the presidential address of bishop Elenwo delivered at the third session of the first synod May 17, 1999. In the eight year of her existence, DNDN began to give birth to the first diocese of DNDN in confirmation of her extension growth process. The Archdeaconries of Ahoada, Omoku and Upata were constituted into a diocese which was approved at the CofN Standing Committee meeting held at Ilesha, March 9-13, 2004. To establish the approval, Clement Nathan Ekpeye then Archdeacon of Tai was elected. Born July 1, 1954 at Odiabidi in Ekpeye Kingdom of Ahoada East LGA; Clement had his pastoral formation at Trinity Theological College Umuahia.

He was made deacon July 18, 1993 and ordained priest July 17, 1994 by Bishop Samuel Elenwo under DND. The Anglican divine also preferred and installed him honorary Canon of St Paul‟s Cathedral, Diobu-Port Harcourt April 6, 1997 respectively. Bishop Kattey appointed Clement Administrator of Tai Archdeaconry April 10, 2009 and Archdeacon November 2, 2003. He and his wife Edna, faithfully pastored the congregations of St. Patrick‟s Edeoha, St. Paul‟s Ahoada, St. John‟s Ihuowo, Holy Trinity Rumuapara, St John‟s Ndele and Holy Trinity Norwa.

The mantle of shepherding the new diocese fell on him and was consecrated July 25, 2004 by Primate Peter J. Akinola at Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa Abuja (Onu, 2014). Two days later, July 27, he was enthroned Bishop of Ahoada Diocese at Cathedral Church of Saint Paul Ahoada.

Ordeal

The Bishop of Ahoada, Clement Ekpeye, has been abducted from his home in Nigeria’s Rivers State by unknown gunmen. The assailants stormed the Bishop’s Court residence located on Odiemerenyi road in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State in the Ahoada East local government area around 7 PM on Tuesday night on 18th December 2018 . Deputy Superintendent Nnamdi Omoni of Rivers State Police said that officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad were leading the investigation and search for Bishop Clement.

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said that he was “distraught” to hear about the abduction. “This is absolutely terrible news”, he said. “My heart goes out to his wife Edna, the rest of his family and everyone in his diocese. I would urge the whole Anglican Communion to join me in praying for his safe release.”

The Diocese of Ahoada is in the internal province of Niger Delta in the Anglican Church of Nigeria.

Bishop Clement Ekpeye was held in captivity for five days and was released on the fifth day being 22 December 2018 (Saturday) after unknown gunmen abducted him from his home in Nigeria’s Rivers State. The abduction of Bishop Clement Nathan Ekpeye brought about sad days not just in the Anglican Communion but the whole of the christian community.