Nigerian Pastor Appeals for Government Assistance to Recover Kidnapped Family

A Nigerian pastor is calling on government authorities to help secure the release of his wife, Mercy Simon, and their young daughter, Talita, who were abducted in November 2025. The pair was traveling to a wedding in Borno state when they were intercepted by suspected Boko Haram militants. According to the husband, his wife was specifically targeted because of her Christian faith.

After nearly a year of silence, the pastor reported receiving ransom demands via WhatsApp in September 2026. The initial request of 50 million naira was eventually lowered to 12 million naira, an amount the pastor states he cannot afford. Local official Barka Iliyasu has confirmed the abduction occurred along the Buratai-Biu-Bunu Yadi road.

The pastor, who previously served in ministry in the Chibok and Bama regions before being displaced by violence, claims that approximately 70 other Christians are currently being held by the same captors. While he and other affected families have reached out to Senator Ali Ndume for intervention, they report that they have yet to receive a response from government officials. The pastor continues to care for his three remaining children while seeking assistance for his family's release.