Nigerian priest kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen

Christians in Nigeria face frequent attacks from not pnly Islamist groups like Boko Haram but also from Fulani herdsmen. Priests and religious have come under increased attacks in recent years. Fr. Bako Francis Awesuh was held captive by Fulani herdsmen for over a month in Spring 2021. He talked to ACN about his experience.

By ACN Staff

Fr. Bako Francis Awesuh. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Christians in Nigeria are facing extensive attacks by Islamists from groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State – West Africa Province. Increasingly in the last few years, priests and religious have become the specific targets of attacks and kidnappings by Islamist terrorists, not only in Nigeria but all-over West Africa. On top of this, Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt have also come under attack by Muslim Fulani herdsmen. For over a month in Spring 2021, Father Bako Francis Awesuh, who is a 37-years-old at St. John Paul II parish in Gadanaji, Kaduna state, was held captive by Fulani herdsmen.

A Fulani herdsman. (Credit: © Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN))

Father Awesuh recently talked to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about his ordeal. On 16 May, around 11 PM, Father Awesuh was watching TV. He heard gunshots outside, turned off his TV and looked out the window. He saw five armed Fulani herdsmen. He could tell they were Fulani because of their clothing. They then knocked on Father Awesuh’s door. Father Awesuh told us what happened next:

“They kept on knocking, but, afraid, I refused to open the door. They broke down the door and forced themselves inside. One of the men pushed me to the floor, tied me up and flogged me mercilessly, saying ka ki ka bude mana kofa da tsori (‘you are getting tortured because you kept us standing outside for so long and refused to open the door when we were knocking’). They stripped me naked down to my shorts.”

Father Aweshu was taken with ten of his parishioners on a three-day trek in the forest. It rained for much of the time and they only had mangos to eat. They eventually arrived at a small camp in the forest. They were kept in a small hut for one month and five days. They were not allowed to bathe and were not allowed outside the hut even to go to the toilet.

Protesting against Fulani attacks in Diocese of Kafanchan. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Father Awesuh gave more details about their time in captivity:

“We were tortured and threatened with death if a ransom of 50 million naira (about $120,000) was not paid. A call was made to our families to pay the ransom in exchange for our lives. Our families pleaded and negotiated with our kidnappers, until they finally accepted the sum of 7 million naira ($17,000).

“Meanwhile some of my parishioners had tried to rescue us from the kidnappers. Three people lost their lives in the process: Jeremiah Madaki, Everest Yero, our parish secretary, and an elderly man. They had tracked us down.”

The killings of three of his parishioners deeply affected Father Awesuh, filling him with pain and sorrow. He told us the only prayer he was able to say was “Lord have mercy”. Father Awesuh explains how they were eventually released.

“Finally, our families were able to pay the ransom, and, to the greater glory of God’s name, we were released and came out alive. I narrowly escaped death. I know of so many priests kidnapped before and after me who were killed even after a ransom was paid.”

Father Awesuh went the counselling after the ordeal to help him deal with the trauma of what he went through. Sadly this is not an isolated incident, and if just one of attacks against Christians that are a common occurrence in Nigeria.