By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
About two years after a pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Rev. Paul Musa, and his pastor-wife,Ruth, were kidnapped by Boko Haram affiliate, Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Gamboru/Ngala Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, North-East Nigeria, there is concern that the church and government may have abandoned the couple to their fate.
Rev. Musa, 61, who pastors the church branch in Gamboru/Ngala, and Ruth,51, were abducted on March 14, 2023, and for a long time there was virtually no information on their whereabouts.
ISWAP later contacted the church demanding a ransom of N50 million for their release.
However, dependable sources said the church, which has its headquarters in Jos, the Plateau State capital, was able to raise about half the amount, which was reportedly rounded rejected by the insurgents who demanded full payment,or the worse may happen to the couple.
Filmed by terrorists pleading for help
On Sunday May 5, 2024, Rev. Musa, who had been a pastor for 29 years, and his wife appeared in a hostage video uploaded by the terrorist group.
In the video that lasted eight minutes, the couple was filmed in Muslim clothing with a Boko Haram flag in the background.
Rev. Musa and Ruth spoke to the camera, sending a Save Our Soul (SOS) message for their release from captivity.
In both English and Hausa languages, Rev. Musa said: “Good morning, brethren. I, Reverend Paul Musa, Lead Pastor of COCIN LCC Gamboru Ngala, Borno, Nigeria, I am sending this message to you that it was on that day from 14th of March 2023 when we were kidnapped. I want to send a message to the Lord to know that we are inneed of help. 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), the Christian body of leaders.
“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 that we too should go home.
“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.
“We have seen people who came from organisations easily set free and also 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!”
Ruth,who spoke in Hausa, said: “My name is Ruth Paul from LCC Gamboru Ngala, RCC Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
“I’m sending this message to the world and the Nigerian government, to our groups of pastors.
“The terrorists kidnapped us from the 14 March 2023. I’m pleading with the Nigerian government to help us; we have been pleading and asking for help from them till today and we have seen nothing.
“We are pleading because those who came after us, their brethren came and they were set free and returned home.
“Muslims came for their brothers; they helped them and they have gone home. Staff of Red Cross came after us and their people came and helped them, but we are still here.
“Please help us in the time these people have 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.”
LCC means Local Church Council while RCC is Regional Church Council, descriptive terminologies for the church’s different pastoral-administrative units.
The video closed with a separately filmed short segment where Rev. Paul said: “I could lose my life, help me, and pay my ransom. Perhaps they will release me, please help me. Please let it be quick. This is the last opportunity I have been given to talk to you. After this, you might not hear my voice again. Thank you!”
With no information on the current fate of both pastors, concern has risen in sections of the Christian community in the state and beyond.
Couple Still Alive In Captivity
Kanuri-born activist, Rev. Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa, who has taken up the matter, lamented that the husband and wife may have been abandoned by the church after failing to meet the N50 million ransom demand.
He said the couple is still alive,but with the terrorists.
In a press statement on Friday, Dikwa said: “One Rev. Paul Musa and his wife Mrs. Ruth Musa from Chibok tribe, that were abducted by the ISWAP terrorist group on the 14/03/2023 at the COCIN Church LCC Gamboru/Ngala LGA of Borno State, are still under the custody of ISWAP terrorists.
“They’ve been their for good one year and 10 months; their last message sent to the public and COCIN Church leadership to rescue them in the hand of ISWAP terrorist group was before the 2024 Christmas Day.
“But the leadership of COCIN Church closed their eyes and ears to the call by the victims. Therefore we are calling for good and merciful Nigerians to come to the victims’ aid.”
Activist Narrates Church’s Alleged Rigmarole Over Ransom Payment
He expressed displeasure at the alleged abandonment, saying: “Is it that the lives of Rev. Paul Musa and his wife Ruth are not important to the COCIN leadership or what?
“The church is focusing on building worldly structure rather than building the lives of human beings; COCIN Headquarters in Jos, Plateau State, is building a guest house of over N1.5 billion.
“And also COCIN RCC/PCC Borno is constructing and building a guest house and house of Chairman, COCIN RCC/PCC Borno, with millions of Naira.
“And the leadership of COCIN claimed that the money, N50 million ransom, demanded by the ISWAP terrorist group is too much for them to pay.
“If one of the key leaders, either General Secretary, Vice President or the President of the COCIN, were the ones abducted, they can pay even N1billion to rescue themselves.”
Rev. Dikwa added: “When Rev. Paul Musa and his wife Ruth were abducted in 2023, I met with the then Chairman, RCC Gamboru, PCC Borno, one Rev. Abdullahi Kamangry to discuss the matter, but he said the matter is before the Borno State CAN Chairman, Bishop Mohammed Williams Naga, and that the CAN Chairman was discussing with the Borno State government officials for the release of Rev. Paul and his wife.
“Later on, after taking a long time, I traveled to Jos, Plateau State, the Headquarters of the COCIN Church, to see the national leaders and met with the COCIN Headquarters’ Chief Security Officer, Rev. T. Lot, and he said COCIN PCC Borno are the right people to handle the matter.
“When contacted, the COCIN, PCC Chairman Borno, Rev. Wayas said it’s good that COCIN RCC Gamboru handles the matter.
“When I saw the way the thing was going, I just kept silent about the matter but last week when I visited Rev. Titus Pona, who introduced one of the victims’ (the Musas’) sons to me, and when I asked the young man a question, this young man cried for his parents profusely, uncontrollably.”
Appeal For Public Help
Expressing disgust over the state of affairs, when contacted by newsmen, an obviously disappointed Dikwa asked: “COCIN Church, how can a church neglect, abandon its members in the hands of terrorists?”
Rev. Dikwa, who doubles as Director General (DG), Center for Justice on Religions and Ethnicity in Nigeria, called on public-spirited Nigerians to “help this poor family of Rev. Paul Musa to bring joy to the faces of his children.”
He added: “Chibok tribe are 95 per cent Christians and their community is the target of the ISWAP terrorist group and almost every day attacks are carried out by the terrorists in Chibok villages.
“Rev. Paul Musa and his wife are Chibok by tribe and are members of COCIN Church; how can a church neglect and abandon them in the hands of terrorists?”
