Again, kidnappers abduct Kaduna pastor, demand ransom

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State has confirmed the abduction of a pastor, Elisha Numan, noting that the assailants are demanding N20m as ransom.

The pastor, who is in charge of Nagarta Baptist Church Ungwan Makiri, close to Udawa in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was abducted on Wednesday.

According to reports, no fewer than 20 gunmen in military camouflage invaded the Kaduna residence of the pastor around 2 am on Wednesday and forcefully made away with him.

His son, Emmanuel Elisha, who was taken away along with his father (pastor), was later released by the abductors to be used as negotiating contact.

The kidnappers reportedly threatened the son before releasing him to go and raise the money within five days or risk the father being killed.

However, the kidnappers later made contact with the family and are demanding N20m ransom before the pastor could gain his freedom.

Emmanuel, while narrating his ordeal at the hands of his abductors, said, “about 20 armed men came to the village and started hitting and banging at doors but nobody opened.

“They forced their way into houses and vandalised properties and carted away some valuables, including mobile phones and clothing in my mother’s box(luggage).

“They(kidnappers) later picked me together with my father. But after we have moved a while in the bush, I was released and they went away with my father.

“One of them was dressed in military camouflage. As they released me, they threatened that if we didn’t bring money (ransom) in five days even though they didn’t mention the specific ransom, they will kill him(pastor).

“They later called us and asked us to raise N20m ransom so they could release him. We don’t have that kind of money but we are still negotiating with them.

“We are yet to report to the police because even when we had similar experience in the past and contacted them, they did not do anything about it.”

This was coming less than two weeks after the murder of Pastor Jeremiah Omolewa of the Living Faith Church, Ungwan Romi, in the same local government in Kaduna. His wife was kidnapped and only released after a N3m ransom was paid.