The Bishop of Ahoada in Rivers State, Nigeria has been abducted by gunmen from his official residence.
The Synod Secretary of the Diocese confirmed the incident to local media and described the event as "shocking".
The kidnappers broke into the bishop's residence around 7pm on Tuesday.
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said that he was "distraught" to hear about the kidnapping.
He added: "This is absolutely terrible news. 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."
While no suspects have been named, the state's 2019 governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Tonye Cole, linked the abduction to the bishop's relationship with himself.
A statement released by Cole's campaign organisation stated: "The gentle and respectable priest, whose whereabouts are still unknown, was the clergyman who received and prayed with Cole when he visited the area.
"Since the APC flag bearer's visit, the priest has received threats from persons at large.
"We are disturbed that kidnapping has degenerated so low that a man of God who has dedicated his life to the service of mankind can be so brutally assaulted by thugs acting on the orders of their godfathers."
Deputy Superintendent Nnamdi Omoni of Rivers State Police said an investigation is ongoing.
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