Kidnappers kill pastor after collecting N1m ransom in Kogi

A pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Kogi State, Pastor David Musa, has been killed by kidnappers after being abducted from his farm in Obajana, Lokoja Local Government Area, on Saturday, November 11, 2023.

According to reports, the pastor was seized by unknown assailants, only to meet a grim fate even after his family and church diligently followed the kidnappers‘ demands.

Mary, a distressed member of the church, disclosed that the abduction occurred on the aforementioned day, leaving the pastor’s wife anxiously awaiting his return.

As night fell, the alarm was raised when the pastor failed to return home, prompting church members and concerned residents to initiate a search operation on his farm.

“The pastor went to his farm that ugly day. So, his wife was waiting for him to return home, but she didn’t see her husband. When night fell, the wife raised an alarm, and the church people, including residents of the community, went to his farm to search for him,” she explained.

“It was then that they discovered that the pastor had been kidnapped. The abductors got in touch with the family, demanding N20,000,000. Since the church and the family could not raise such an amount of money, they pleaded with the kidnappers, and they reduced the ransom to N1,000,000.

“The kidnappers insisted that, when they are bringing the money, they should come along with recharge cards, chicken, and many alcoholic drinks for their consumption. Two of the church members were sent to deliver the money and the items requested by the kidnappers.

“When they went to the kidnappers’ den, they saw our pastor alive. They now instructed our pastor and the two other church members who brought the money to start going home.

“Unfortunately, they later called the pastor to come back, and he did as instructed because he knew that there was no way he could run from their place since his abductors were holding sophisticated weapons.

“When he was coming back to them, they immediately shot at him, and he died. That was how they later brought his lifeless body back to Obajana. This incident has thrown the entire church and the community into mourning.” 

Expressing their sorrow, the church posted a message on their social media platform, confirming the tragic end to Pastor Musa’s ordeal.

“It is with a heavy heart, but in total submission to the will of God, that I write to inform you that the abductors of our brother, Pastor Musa David, have killed him after collecting a ransom of one million naira last night. Let our prayers be with the family, the church, and the DCC in this trying moment.” 

The message conveyed the heartbreaking news that the pastor had been killed after the kidnappers received the ransom of one million naira.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command, through its spokesperson, SP William Ayah, confirmed the incident on Thursday, November 16.

Assuring justice, Ayah stated that efforts are underway to apprehend those responsible for the heinous crime.

The command has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

See below;