The family of Reverend Bitrus Yahi has made a renewed appeal to the federal government for his release after more than a decade in Boko Haram captivity.
Reverend Yahi, a pastor with the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN), was abducted by insurgents on April 18, 2014, along the Gwoza-Pulka road in Borno State.
This was the same month the infamous kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls occurred, an incident that shocked the world and brought attention to Boko Haram’s atrocities.
Unlike some of the schoolgirls who have been rescued or escaped, Reverend Yahi remains in captivity after over 10 years and 8 months.
Initially kidnapped with his wife, she was released while Reverend Yahi has remained in the clutches of the terrorist group.
His family, heartbroken and desperate, has turned to the Nigerian government, the Borno State authorities, and well-meaning Nigerians to help secure his freedom.
In a tearful plea, a family member said, “Reverend Yahi has given his life to God and the church. He does not deserve to spend over a decade in the hands of these people.”
Recent confirmation of Reverend Yahi’s survival has brought a glimmer of hope to his family.
Some of the escaped Chibok girls who fled from Sambisa Forest in 2023 reported that the pastor is still alive, reigniting efforts to free him.
The family believes that this information, along with government intervention, could lead to his release.
“We plead with Boko Haram to let him go. If they want money, let them tell us. We will try our best,” a family representative stated.
Reverend Yahi’s life and work with EYN started in 1987, and he was leading a church in Gwoza Local Government Area at the time of his abduction.
Described as a devoted pastor and family man, he has eight children: two daughters and six sons.
“His family has suffered too much,” a relative lamented. “We just want him home.”
The kidnapping of Reverend Yahi underscores the ongoing threats posed by Boko Haram, which continues to target civilians, clergy, and public servants in Nigeria.
While the Nigerian military has achieved significant victories over the group in recent years, cases like Reverend Yahi’s highlight the prolonged suffering of those still held hostage.
The pastor’s family hopes that renewed public attention will compel the government to take swift action.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to step in,” the family urged.
They added, “This man of God has served Nigeria for decades. Please, let him return to his family.”
The ongoing plight of hostages like Reverend Yahi serves as a reminder of the human cost of the insurgency.
It also raises questions about Nigeria’s strategies for rescuing captives and supporting their families.
