US Missionary Held for $300K Ransom in Nigeria

Phyllis Sortor, an American missionary in Nigeria, has been abducted from the Hope Academy compound in Emiworo, Kogi State. Nigerian police say her captors are asking for $300,000 in ransom.

The Free Methodist Church, Sortor's sponsoring denomination, reports that the U.S. State Department and FBI are working with Nigerian authorities to find and rescue her.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria and most victims are returned unharmed.

It's also possible that the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram is involved, although it operates mainly in the northeastern corner of Nigeria and Sotor was kidnapped in the central part of the country.

Sotor grew up in Mozambique and friends say she understood the risks involved in working in Nigeria, a country torn by religious violence.

"She's grown up with dangers. She knows full well what she's involved with," college friend Judy O'Brien said.

Colleagues say Sortor is a visionary, involved in multiple projects to help the Nigerian people.

"She is my inspiration of courage," Mike Henry, staff pastor at Wenatchee Free Methodist Church in Washington, said.

He has worked with Sortor on several efforts, including building schools and introducing a cattle-grazing program to herdsmen.

Sotor worked primarily as the financial administrator for Hope Academy as well as working with international Child Care Ministries, a child sponsorship program in more than 30 countries.