A pastor with the Church of Christ in Nations, Rev Polycarp Zongo, has been released from captivity by the Islamic terrorist sect – Boko Hara after eight months.
The PUNCH reported that the clergyman who heads a branch of the church in Jos, Plateau State, was kidnapped on his way to a ministers’ conference in Gombe State by the terrorists on October 19, 2020.
About 12 days after the abduction, his church members and well-wishers gathered on the church premises at the Low Cost area of Jos in jubilation when news filtered in that he was released.
The information, however, turned out to be untrue, a development that left the people and his family members traumatised.
Zongo’s abductors, according to the President of COCIN, Rev Dachollom Datiri, had demanded a “huge” ransom, which the church could not afford, and since then, the leadership of the church had been calling for his unconditional release until Monday, when the pastor eventually regained his freedom.
A peace advocate and President of the Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Rev Gideon Para-Mallam, confirmed Zongo’s release to our correspondent in Jos on Tuesday.
Para-Mallam, who said he had spoken to the pastor, added that he was freed in Maiduguri, Borno State, by his abductors alongside others victims.
Para-Mallam stated, “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.”
