by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - As Islamic terrorism continues to grip swathes of Nigeria, jihadist terrorists are threatening to execute a pastor and his wife whom they abducted in Borno state last year - unless their demands and hefty ransom are not met, Crosswalk reports.
Rev. Paul Musa of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) and his wife were kidnapped by terrorists in Borno state in May 2023. Last month, the couple’s captors released a video showing the pastor speaking with a masked armed terrorist behind him.
“One week ultimatum has been given by our captors for you who are ready to secure our release, to do that which is necessary to meet their demands,” Musa said in the video. “If within one week nothing is done, me and my wife will be killed. My appeal is that you do whatever you can within the stipulated time to get us out of here or receive the news about our death.”
It is believed the video was released between June 21 and June 25, Crosswalk reports.
The pastor’s church raised money for a ransom but this was declined as insufficient, Crosswalk said. The amount demanded reportedly ranges from $39,000 to $130,000, Crosswalk said.
Ruled by an Islamist government that has done virtually nothing to stem the ongoing wholesale slaughter of Christians by Islamic terrorists, Nigeria ranks sixth on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.