Abducted US missionary, Sortor, freed in Kogi

Phyllis Sortor, the American missionary abducted by gunmen in Kogi state, Nigeria, on February 23, has been freed.

According to a statement released by Free Methodist Church, United States (US), Sortor was freed on Friday, March 6, 2015, to the care of the mission authorities.

“We thank God Phyllis Sortor, Free Methodist missionary to Nigeria, was safely released today, Friday, March 6, early evening Nigerian time, into the care of authorities and Free Methodist Church leaders,” the statement read in part.

“She had been abducted February 23. We are deeply grateful to all who prayed for Phyllis’ safe return and praise God the family representative was able to secure her release.

“Please continue to pray for Phyllis as she processes the ordeal she has faced. Also pray for Phyllis’ family members who have been profoundly affected by this experience. We are reaching out to them and will continue to minister to them in the days ahead,”

Sola Adebayo, public relations officer of the police in Kogi spoke to TheCable after the abduction, saying Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, the state commissioner of police, had immediately dispatched a rescue team to recover Sortor.

Though her abductors demanded a sum of N60m, it is unclear if a ransom was paid towards securing her release.

“As a matter of sound policy, and to help protect the many, many people who helped secure Phyllis’ freedom, we will have no comment concerning the efforts that were undertaken to secure her release,” the mission said.

The 71-year-old who had her childhood in Mozambique dedicated her life to mission work in Africa, a continent she says she “deeply loves”.

She has also been instrumental in establishing schools in Kogi state for the children of Fulani herdsmen and in instituting grazing projects as one solution to long-term conflicts between Nigerian farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

She understood the risk that accompanied the “job” she was doing in the state, but insisted that “there are very few places in the world without risks and dangers”.