Boko Haram Releases Pastor After Seven Months In Captivity

• Boko Haram has released an abducted pastor after seven months in captivity.

A pastor with the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Rev Polycarp Zongo, has been released by the Boko Haram terrorists after seven months in captivity, EKO HOT BLOG has gathered.

The pastor, who presides over a branch of the church in Jos, the Plateau State capital, was abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents on October 19, 2020.

Zongo, it was gathered, was on a journey to a ministers’ conference in Gombe State when he was kidnapped by the insurgents.

EKO HOT BLOG  gathered that about 12 days after the pastor’s abduction, his church members and well-wishers gathered on the church premises at the Low Cost area of Jos in jubilation when the news of his release filtered in, but the information turned out to be untrue.

The development had left the people and his family members traumatised.

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According to the President of COCIN, Rev Dachollom Datiri, the Boko Haram insurgents had demanded a huge ransom, which the church could not afford.

Since then, the leadership of the church had been calling for his unconditional release until Monday, when the pastor eventually regained his freedom.

As gathered by EKO HOT BLOG, the pastor’s release was confirmed by a peace advocate and President of the Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Rev Gideon Para-Mallam, in Jos on Tuesday.

Para-Mallam disclosed that Zongo was released in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, by his abductors alongside other victims.

“I just spoke with him. His release, this time, is true.

“He was released on Monday night by his abductors in Maiduguri and I was told that he would soon return to Jos any moment from now. We really thank God for sparing his life after several months in captivity,” Para-Mallam disclosed.

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