Kidnappers kill Kogi pastor after collecting N1m ransom

A clergyman at the Evangelical Church Winning All, in Kogi State, David Musa, has been killed by his abductors after they allegedly collected N1m ransom.

It was gathered that the late Musa, who was abducted on Saturday, November 11, 2023, in Obajana, Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, was later killed on Tuesday, November 14.

A member of the church who was identified as Mary, while narrating how the pastor was killed, said, “The pastor went to his farm that day. So, his wife was waiting for him to return home but she didn’t see her husband. When night fell, the wife raised the alarm after which the church people, including residents of the community, went to his farm to search for him.

“It was then that they discovered that the pastor had been kidnapped. The abductors got in touch with the family demanding N20m. Since the church and the family could not raise such amount of money, they pleaded with the kidnappers and they reduced the ransom to N1m.

“The kidnappers insisted that when they are bringing the money, the church should come along with recharge cards, chicken, and many alcoholic drinks for their consumption.”

Two church members were said to have been sent to deliver the money and the items requested by the kidnappers.

“When they got 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 weapons.

“When he was coming back to them, they shot him and he died on the spot. They later brought his lifeless body back to Obajana,” the church member added.

The incident has thrown the church and the community into mourning.

It was further learnt that the news of the murder of the late pastor was first broken on a social media platform of the church on Wednesday morning.

The short message read, “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 N1m  last night. Let our prayers be with the family, the Church, and the DCC in this trying moment.”

The late pastor was formerly in charge of ECWA Bishara, Ajaokuta.

His murder has heightened panic among his congregation and the state in general.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Thursday afternoon.

The state police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, told our correspondent that the command has begun an investigation into the incident, adding that those behind the killing would be arrested and prosecuted.