Mikah Suleiman, the abducted parish priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church in Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State, has made a desperate plea for assistance in a video that surfaced on social media.
The clergyman, abducted by suspected bandits on Saturday, June 22, 2024, was seen in the video pleading for his life.
The video, which has since been widely circulated, shows Father Suleiman sitting on the ground, visibly distressed and bearing signs of physical abuse.
His captors, standing off-camera, had reportedly beaten and tied him with a rope.
“I am pleading for help to be freed from this place. They (bandits) told me that they don’t keep people for long here. People don’t stay for up to a week.
“The bandits told me that killing a person is not difficult to them. They said they are just helping me by keeping me, please, I am asking for help”, the clergyman said in the video.
“Please save my life in the name of God. Look at my head, look at my legs. I was tied with a rope and I am the only one in this place.
“Normally if they kidnapped somebody, they don’t waste time. If ransom is not paid immediately, they kill the person. Please, for God’s sake, help me, help me”, he pleaded.
The abduction, which occurred around 3 am at his residence in the Damba area of Gusau, was confirmed by Yazid Abubakar, spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command.
Despite the incident not being initially reported to the police, a tactical squad was deployed to track down the kidnappers and ensure Father Suleiman’s safe return.
The plea from Father Suleiman has sparked widespread concern and calls for swift action from authorities and the public to secure his release.
