An American woman working as a missionary was kidnapped in Nigeria Monday, leaving authorities scrambling to ensure her safe return.
Five armed men kidnapped Rev. Phyllis Sortor from her workplace at the Hope Academy compound in Kogi state and are demanding a ransom
amounting to more than $300,000, CNN reported.
The men climbed over the wall of the compound, kidnapped Sortor, and fled into the mountains. Police haven’t said whether they suspect a specific group for the action, CNN said. The terrorist group Boko Haram doesn’t operate in the area where Sortor was taken.
Hope Academy teaches nomadic children. Sortor teaches and supports Community Health Evangelism and area women’s literacy projects,
according to the Free Methodist World Missions website.
A prayer service was held Monday night at Seattle Pacific University,
where Sortor went to school, King 5 News reported.
Sortor’s stepson, Richard Sortor, told the station “she’s doing God’s work” and that the news of her kidnapping is "surreal, just surreal, I can't believe this."
The Free Methodist Church said the State Department and FBI were working with
local authorities on the case, NBC News reported.
Twitter users hoped for her safe return.