A Priest’s Harrowing Ordeal: Survival and Forgiveness
In a gripping account of survival and resilience, Father Stephen Ojapah of Nigeria recounts his harrowing experience of being abducted by insurgents. Enduring over a month in captivity, the priest now seeks to aid others who have faced similar traumas.
The chilling details of his abduction emerged during a Religious Freedom Roundtable event held at The Church of Scientology’s Public Affairs Office in Washington, D.C. Fr. Ojapah, who authored Tears and Torture: 33 Days in Kidnappers Den, revisited the fateful night of May 2022 when he and four others sought shelter at a parish in Nigeria’s Katsina state. The attackers, identified as a splinter group from Boko Haram, indiscriminately captured everyone present.
“I said, ‘I am the priest,'” Ojapah vividly recalled. “So I begged them, ‘Please, I know you have come for me. Release the other three and go with me.'” Despite his plea, all were taken, enduring a grueling two-day march.
Ojapah’s ordeal was compounded by having to walk barefoot, resulting in bleeding feet. Observing the captors smoking marijuana for energy, he inquired for some relief but was only given an energy booster, which left him weaker due to the absence of food and water. His companions had to support him physically.
Eventually, the captives were transported on bikes and upon reaching their destination, they were subjected to beatings and left chained for 33 days, exposed to the elements. Ojapah described the humiliating conditions, noting, “the dirt became part of [them].”
Their release came after the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto paid a ransom exceeding $30,000. Before letting him go, one captor inquired, “‘Father, will you still forgive us after all we have done to you?'” Ojapah’s response was rooted in his faith, affirming, “Yes, truly I forgive you.”
Following his release, Ojapah initiated the Trauma Victims Initiative, a project designed to support fellow Nigerians affected by kidnappings. The initiative offers counseling and a platform for sharing experiences. His memoir, published in September, provides insight into the pervasive trauma experienced by kidnap victims in Nigeria.
Ojapah emphasized the need for regional cooperation and humanitarian aid to help Nigeria, which suffers from religious violence. He called for equitable rights for Christians and Muslims and stressed the importance of battling radical ideologies regionally, citing countries like Chad and Niger as crucial allies.
The priest remains hopeful about Nigeria’s future, stating, “I’m still very hopeful. I’m very hopeful that it is possible for Nigeria to grow from her ashes. And I realize that when all of the chips are down in life, all we have is God.” He acknowledged that God often works through humans to enact positive change.
Nigeria’s perilous environment for Christians has been documented by various religious freedom organizations, highlighting ongoing persecution from radical groups and tensions with Muslim communities.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
