Kaduna Pastor Freed After Ransom Payment, Kidnappers Detain Church Treasurer Who Delivered It

A pastor who was abducted in Kaduna State has regained his freedom, but the church official who delivered the ransom to secure his release is now being held by the kidnappers.

Pastor Samson Ndah Ali of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Mararaba Aboro in Sanga Local Government Area, was freed after a ransom was paid. However, the financial secretary of the church, identified as Danjuma, was reportedly detained by the abductors during the ransom exchange.

Pastor Ali, 30, was kidnapped from his residence in the early hours of April 8, 2025, just two weeks after being assigned to the church. The kidnappers had initially demanded N100 million in ransom, though the actual amount paid remains undisclosed.

A community source revealed that the elderly church official who delivered the money was surprisingly not allowed to leave after the pastor was released. “The pastor was freed, but the kidnappers decided to detain the man who brought the ransom. We don’t know why, and the community is in shock,” the source told *Daily Trust*.

Confirming his release in a Facebook post, Pastor Ali expressed gratitude for his freedom and prayed for Danjuma’s safety and quick release.