By Mike Odeh James and Luka Binniyat, TruthNigeria
Terrorist-bandit kidnappings in Nigeria have a new twist: The kidnappers are allowing the hostages to keep their cell phones to assist in the aggressive push for ransoms. The 20 medical students snatched on a highway in Central Benue State last Thursday have been calling their parents begging for ransom since Friday. As TruthNigeria reported, the distraught parents have been traumatized by the first calls.
“They will kill me and enslave my daughter if . . .” a kidnapped Police Chaplain says in a recent viral video from Zamfara State.
In a desolate, foreboding forest, surrounded by towering trees, overgrown grasses, and twisted shrubs, a heart-breaking scene is unfolding according to a video obtained by Truth Nigeria in Kaduna, Friday.
Chaplain Isa Andrew, Police officer and Christian Clergy stands alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Grace, in a state of utter distress in the forest, where the two have been tortured for five weeks.
Bizarre treatment by bandits
Blindfolded and barefoot, Andrew’s dishevelled appearance reflects the trauma he endures. Grace, her young shoulders are burdened by the weight of an AK-49 rifle hung over her shoulder, her eyes downcast.
“My name is Isa Andrew,” he says, his voice trembling.
“I work with the Nigeria Police Force as a Chaplain in Gusau, Zamfara,” he adds. “Along with me is my daughter, Grace, and she is 13 years old. We were kidnapped on July 22, 2024.”
“We need help with our situation. Six million naira ($4000 dollars) is being demanded. Everything that I have has been sold in trying to raise the funds. My wife even took loans to meet the amount.
“Well-meaning Nigerians also helped us.
“After raising the six million ($4000 dollars) the Fulanis said it was not enough, and they demanded an extra six million,” he says.
“I have diabetes, and it’s affecting my health. My daughter here has suffered so much; they said if we don’t come up with 6 million by Thursday, I will be killed, and my daughter married off to them.
“Please, Nigerians, help us. We need six million naira. We’re begging you; please assist us!
My wife will be in trouble, if we don’t meet the deadline. Help us, and God will bless you,” he says.
“The Fulani terrorists are waging a horrific psychological warfare campaign against Nigeria’s Christian population,” said J. Michael Waller, Ph.D., Senior Analyst for Strategy, Center for Security Policy to TruthNigeria by email.
“It’s a simple campaign that uses the victims’ cell phones as the psychological weapon against the victims’ families and larger communities,” according to Waller.
“Each operation has four parts. First, to prove that the victim is captive but alive for the purposes of criminal extortion. Second, to show threats or proof of rape, torture, or murder to inflict maximum fear, anxiety, and terror in target communities. Third, to show that the authorities are either incompetent or complicit. Fourth, to humiliate, dominate, and destroy for the purposes of demonstrating what appears to be an unstoppable onslaught of fundamentalist Islam. These four parts produce the psychological effect of mass demoralization, with the ideological goal of forcing demoralized or terrorized Christians to submit to the terrorists’ version of Islam,” Waller went on to say.
Chaplain’s brother opens up
“My brother, Isa Andrew, works with Police Affairs Commission as a Chaplain, and he pastors the Protestant Church at Police Mobile Force Barracks, Unit 42 in Gusau,” Lucky Andrew, the Chaplain’s brother, told TruthNigeria.
“The kidnappers specifically targeted Andrew, leaving his neighbors unscathed but in a state of shock and terror, “he added.
“The terrorists stormed Andrew’s house, taking him and his 13-year-old daughter, Grace, away. They insisted that Grace take her phone with her, leaving her family with a glimmer of hope to stay in touch,” he said.
“The terrorists called a week after they kidnapped my brother, demanding N50 million Naira ($33,000), but later reduced it to $4,000 dollars” Lucky Andrew said, his eyes welling up with tears.
According to him, in a bid to secure Andrew’s release, the family sold everything they had, leaving them in a state of penury.
“I sold my motorcycle, my father’s farms, and my wife and Isa’s wife sold everything they had to raise N6 million Naira demanded,” Lucky explained, his voice cracking with emotion.
“When we took the money to the terrorists in Zamfara, they said it was not enough. They said we have to cough out an extra N6 million Naira and three motor bikes before Thursday, 16 August 2024, or Isa would be killed,” Lucky Andrew said.
The family, now living in two rooms, is struggling to make ends meet. “Isa’s wife and the other children are living with us in two rooms, but the terrorists remain adamant,” Luka said.
Recorded demands of the bandits
Martha Andrew, Isa’s younger sister, shared the heart-breaking conversation she had with the terrorists.
In a haunting recording she did with her phone, the terrorist’s voice is devoid of empathy: “If you don’t meet our demands by Thursday, 16 July 2024, we’ll send you a picture of Isa’s dead body via WhatsApp. And as for Grace, we’ll convert her to Islam and marry her off.”
Shocking Silence
Despite the publicity, the Chaplain’s plight has been met with deafening silence from key authorities.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has failed to publicly address the issue, despite attempts by TruthNigeria reporters to reach the Chairman of CAN’s Zamfara chapter.
Similarly, the Nigerian Police Force, Chaplain Isa’s employer, has refused to respond to calls from TruthNigeria seeking comment.
Furthermore, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara has not issued a statement or taken any visible action regarding the kidnapping, after five weeks.
Blame pushed to the Government
Rev. David Ayuba Azzaman of Kings Worship Centre, Kaduna, faults the federal and State governments for not doing enough to protect Christians.
“The government’s response to the kidnapping of citizens, especially Christians, has been woefully inadequate,” Azzaman said. “Despite the rising number of cases, the government’s efforts to address this issue have been insufficient. Christian families are often left to fend for themselves, with minimal support or assistance from the government when their loved ones are kidnapped. They are forced to take matters into their own hands, sourcing funds to pay ransom demands, while the government claims it does not pay ransom.”
Rev. Musa Kallamu Dikwa of Interreligious and Ethnic Affairs also emphasized that the government’s inaction is evident in the case of Rev. Andrew and his daughter, who were kidnapped and had to sell everything to raise N6m, only for the kidnappers to demand more, including motorcycles.
“This highlights the government’s failure to take decisive action to secure the release of kidnapped victims,” he said.
Mike James Odeh and Luka Binniyat are seasoned Reporter based in Kaduna
