Date:                March 14, 2007

Abduction of boys and girls by Islamists in northern state increasingly common.

by Obed Minchakpu

SOKOTO, Nigeria, March 14 (Compass Direct News) – Christian leaders here say abduction of Christian boys and girls for conversion to Islam has become a common phenomenon in majority-Muslim Sokoto state. Beginning in November of last year, 13-year-old Victor Udo Usen, a member of the Christ Apostolic Church in this northern Nigeria city, went missing. On February 20, news that young Victor was spotted in a Muslim neighbor’s house jolted his family. Victor’s mother, Esther Udo Usen, told Compass that she ran to the house where her son had been seen and met him as he was making frantic efforts to escape. “I quickly held his hands and dragged him along with me towards our house,” she said. “But within a twinkle of an eye, I heard shouts of ‘Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar [God is great]!’ I was shocked as I saw a large number of Muslims rushing towards us.”