A Free Methodist missionary from Seattle was released Friday evening, Nigeria time, March 6, after being abducted Feb. 23 and held for ransom.
The ransom for Phyllis Sortor, 71, originally was set at about $300,000 in U.S. funds, but about a week later the amount was dropped to about $150,000.
No information was given as to the terms, if any, of her release, or the name of the group or gang that kidnapped her.
"We are deeply grateful to all who prayed for Phyllis' safe return and praise God the family representative was able to secure her release," said David Kendall in a statement. He is bishop of the 850,000-member worldwide denomination.
Related story: American missionary kidnapped in Kogi, Nigeria
Monday, March 9, 2015
Chad and Niger military forces join Nigeria in tackling Boko Haram
A Chadian general has confirmed that military forces from Chad and Niger have gone into northeast Nigeria to attack Boko Haram.
Gen. Zakaria Ngobongue told The Associated Press in Chad on Monday that the troop movement marks a second front in northeast Nigeria against the extremist Islamic group. Soldiers opened the first front recently.
Adam Boukarna, a resident of Bosso which in Niger across Nigeria’s northeast border, said that vehicles have been crossing since Saturday. He said after they all crossed into Nigeria loud detonations could be heard, signalling fighting against Boko Haram members.
Nigeria’s neighbours are forming a multinational army to confront Boko Haram.
Niger’s government has not publicly confirmed this ground assault.
Cameroon’s minister of defence Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o confirmed there was an offensive by Nigeria and Chad but that Cameroon’s military was not present because they’ve been asked to protect Cameroon’s borders from the militants. Boko Haram members have been hiding themselves and supplies in Cameroon, and there are fears that the group may want to escape there when fighting intensifies in Nigeria, he said.
Residents in potential conflict zones in Cameroon have been asked to leave, he said.
Boko Haram’s Islamic uprising has killed about 12,000 people in the nearly 6-year-old Islamic uprising in northeastern Nigeria.
AP
Related story: Video - Nigerian military will continue to take fight to Boko haram during Presidential elections
Gen. Zakaria Ngobongue told The Associated Press in Chad on Monday that the troop movement marks a second front in northeast Nigeria against the extremist Islamic group. Soldiers opened the first front recently.
Adam Boukarna, a resident of Bosso which in Niger across Nigeria’s northeast border, said that vehicles have been crossing since Saturday. He said after they all crossed into Nigeria loud detonations could be heard, signalling fighting against Boko Haram members.
Nigeria’s neighbours are forming a multinational army to confront Boko Haram.
Niger’s government has not publicly confirmed this ground assault.
Cameroon’s minister of defence Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o confirmed there was an offensive by Nigeria and Chad but that Cameroon’s military was not present because they’ve been asked to protect Cameroon’s borders from the militants. Boko Haram members have been hiding themselves and supplies in Cameroon, and there are fears that the group may want to escape there when fighting intensifies in Nigeria, he said.
Residents in potential conflict zones in Cameroon have been asked to leave, he said.
Boko Haram’s Islamic uprising has killed about 12,000 people in the nearly 6-year-old Islamic uprising in northeastern Nigeria.
AP
Related story: Video - Nigerian military will continue to take fight to Boko haram during Presidential elections
Friday, March 6, 2015
Video - Nigerian military will continue to take fight to Boko haram during Presidential elections
Nigeria's military has signalled its offensive against Boko Haram will continue through the elections scheduled later this month. The government had given the army six weeks to defeat the Islamist militant group. But the military says it's unlikely to hold to that deadline.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Video - Poverty persists in oil rich Niger Delta in Nigeria
The Niger Delta is where almost all of Nigeria’s oil comes from, but the region remains one of the poorest in Nigeria.President Goodluck Jonathan hails from the region, and when he was elected, many people hoped their lives would improve. However, little has changed.
Related stories: Shell to pay 55 million pounds for oil spills in Nigeria
Video - Farmers await verdict in historical case against Shell for oil pollution
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