By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
ABUJA (Worthy News) - Christians have appealed for prayers as a new video apparently posted by the Islamic Boko Haram group shows Nigerian Pastor Paul Musa wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in front of a masked gunman, pleading for his life and that of his wife.
In the fifteen-second video shared with Worthy News, Paul says that unless Boko Haram’s ransom demands are met by the end of the week, then “this will be for our lives.”
Earlier on Sunday, May 5, Musa, 59, and his wife Ruth, 50, also appeared in a hostage video uploaded by Boko Haram, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. Department of State.
Both pastors of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) denomination in Borno state in northeast Nigeria were kidnapped in March last year and haven’t been heard from publicly since the recent video footage.
“Please pray for Pastor Musa,” evangelist and farmer Paul Jongas told Worthy News.
While the latest video is brief, the previous footage showed the couple extensively filmed in Muslim clothing with a Boko Haram flag in the background. Both speak to the camera, appealing for help to secure their release.
In the lengthy video, Paul speaks first in both English and the Hausa language, saying: “Good morning brethren, I, Reverend Paul Musa, Lead Pastor of COCIN LCC Gamboru Ngala, Borno, Nigeria, am sending this message to you that it was on that day 14th of March 2023 when we were kidnapped. I want to send a message to the Lord to know that we are in need of help.”
WIFE NEEDS HELP
He adds: “I and my wife need help. We need help from the government of Nigeria, from the Christian citizens of Nigeria, which is CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria), and the Christian body of leaders.”
Musa, clearly speaking under duress, adds, “There are people who came [were kidnapped] after us, and they have been set free to their communities. Then we were left, and you forgot about us. Why? We need help, and we, too, should go home.”
The pastor tells “The government of Nigeria – where is the assistance? Where is the concern that you have about the people’s lives? You have forgotten about us and we also need your help.”
He again says, "We have seen people who came from organizations easily get free and Muslim brothers that came here. They have been set free and gone back to their communities. We are still here. Are we not good citizens of Nigeria? We need help from you today!”
Heavily armed gunmen clearly told the pastor and his wife what to say. Paul also says in the video that “he and his wife are not physically healthy and that both had served in church leadership for almost 29 years.”
In the same video, Ruth speaks in Hausa, saying: “My name is Ruth Paul from LCC Gamboru Ngala, RCC Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. I’m sending this message to the world, the Nigerian government, and our pastor's groups.
“The terrorists kidnapped us from 14 March 2023 to today, 30 April 2024. I’m pleading with the Nigerian government to help us.”
‘PLEASE HELP US’
She then repeats her husband's words, saying that they were not helped by anyone while “Muslims came for their brothers, they helped them, and they have gone home. The staff of the Red Cross came after us, and their people came and helped them, but we are still here.”
She adds, "Please help us in the time these people set for us before it elapses. I am 50 years old. We have been working in the church for 29 years. We have been begging with no answer; help us, help us.”
The video closes with a short segment filmed separately, in which Rev Paul says: “I could lose my life, help me, and pay my ransom. Perhaps they will release me; please help me. Please let it be quick.“
He claims, "This is the last opportunity I have been given to talk to you. After this, you might not hear my voice again. Thank you!”
It was not clear whether the church was negotiating about a ransom. Officials have been reluctant to pay money amid mounting kidnapping cases in the country.
The abduction of the Christian couple underscores broader concerns about the plight of Christian believers in several parts of Nigeria, where Islamic groups have killed thousands in recent years.
Advocacy group Open Doors says Nigeria is the deadliest known country for Christians in the world. It has ranked the nation 6th on its annual World Watch List of 50 nations, where it says Christians suffer most for their faith.
“Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Muslim-majority north, continue to live under immense pressure and to be terrorized with devastating impunity by Islamic militants and armed "bandits." More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world combined,” Open Doors said.