On March 1st, 2018, Islamic militants attacked a displacement camp in Borno state. As a result of the attack, three UNICEF workers were killed, along with eight soldiers. During the attack, a Christian woman named Alice Loksha Ngaddah, who worked as a nurse in the camp, was taken captive – along with two Muslim midwives, Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman. Having been declared "apostates" by their captors merely for working with the Red Cross, the two midwives were killed a few months later.
The militants responsible stated at the time that they would be holding Alice, along with a Christian student named Leah Sharibu (whom they had captured only ten days earlier), as "slaves for life." (For more details, see this report.)
For more than six years, Alice had patiently waited for the ideal opportunity to safely escape her abductors. During that time, she gave birth to a son who is now three years old. When the chance to flee finally arrived on October 24th, Alice, along with her young son and another abductee named Fayina Ali Akilwus, quietly slipped away from the militants' camp.
After travelling for more than three days, the weary escapees safely arrived at a military outpost in northeastern Nigeria. As Alice and Fayina neared their destination, they broke out in praises to Jesus, shouting, "We are really saved!" Then, following their arrival at the outpost, they expressed thankfulness to God for the military, asking Him to further strengthen Nigeria's governing authorities and give them victory over the plight of terrorism in their country.
Reportedly, the two women have since been transferred to the Borno state government for rehabilitation. While Alice's long-awaited escape is good news, a source within the United Nations has expressed concern over the many challenges her family must now face following her extended captivity. At the time of her kidnapping in 2018, Alice was a married mother of two children. Her husband, however, believing that she had been killed by the abductors, has since remarried. "Alice and her children will need ongoing emotional, physical and spiritual support if she is to be integrated back into society," reports a local trauma care worker.
Unfortunately, the violence and resulting atrocities of persecution continue to erupt in many areas of Nigeria where Christians have frequently been kidnapped and/or killed. More recently, a group of attackers, believed to be Fulani militants, raided two villages in southern Kaduna state on November 8th and 16th. As in the many other reported cases, the outcome is devastating: five Christians were killed, three have been kidnapped, and several others are presently suffering from serious injuries. To read previous reports concerning our suffering Christian family in Nigeria, and/or view informative video interviews, go to our country profile.
Praise God that Alice and Fayina were able to safely escape their abductors after many years of captivity. Ask our compassionate Lord to help these former captives throughout the difficult processes ahead as they try to re-integrate into life outside of the militants' camp. In particular, pray that the Lord will grant wisdom, healing and hope to Alice and her family as they navigate through their very challenging and complex situation. Also continue to remember Leah Sharibu and the many others presently remaining in captivity, praying that they too will soon gain their freedom. In the meanwhile, may the Nigerian military actively work to stem the influence of militant groups and bring lasting peace, stability and safety to this beleaguered nation.
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