Pastor released by Boko Haram after eight months of captivity
Reverend Polycarp Zongo of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) was released after spending eight months in captivity. On the 19th of October in 2020, the pastor was taken by the Boko Haram faction known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Nigeria.
In a video released days after his abduction, the pastor explained his predicament while asking for government intervention:
“On Monday, 19 October 2020, I was travelling to Gombe for a church conference when we encountered the caliphate’s armed men who captured me along the way; and right now I’m with them.” Pastor Zongo stated in Hausa, asking for help from Governor Simon Lalong, state Sen. I.D. Gyang, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and COCIN. He then stated that two women were with him as well. “They too captured two Christian women who are also here with me. I’m appealing that you all do all that is possible to secure our release from captivity.”
Mr. Bulama Mohammed, the executive director for the Kalthum Foundation for Peace, told Our Nigeria that “no ransom was paid to get the clergyman released. You can confirm this from his family and his church.”
Source: Persecution.org
