Nigerian pastor kidnapped, yet no ransom demanded as officials continue to investigate

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

by Jordan Hilger, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) - A pastor was kidnapped in Nigeria in Adamawa state last week, with no reason given by captors for the abduction, and no ransom demanded.

Pastor Kayode Shodbesan of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Yola disappeared on his way home from work at the Modibbo Adama University of Technology Tuesday evening, according to police.

“Nobody knew until after an hour or two when his wife called him and was told by his abductors,” police spokesman Suleiman Nguroje said.

Christians are frequently kidnapped in Nigeria and held for ransoms of thousands of US dollars by Boko Haram and the Muslim Fulani herdsmen, but officials are still investigating a motive in the case of Shodbesan.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom's 2019 report concluded that "the Nigerian federal government failed to implement effective strategies to prevent or stop such violence or to hold perpetrators accountable."