Unknown Nations’ Greg Kelley connected with a partner whose daughter was among the original 315 people abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School in Niger state. She was also among the 50 students who escaped to safety over the weekend, praise God. 

But other news is surfacing that makes this kidnapping even more grim.

Fulani man in Nigeria. Courtesy of Pixabay.

“What we’re hearing now is it’s not so much about ransom. It’s purely about these people, and they’re Fulani bandits,” says Kelley. “It’s about them viewing this school as a soft target, them taking these girls, forcibly converting them to Islam, and then taking them on as their wives.” 

The abduction on Friday was Nigeria’s worst since the 2014 Boko Haram kidnapping of 276 Christian and Muslim schoolgirls. Dozens of those women remain missing today. 

In the aftermath of the 2014 Chibok school kidnapping, Kelley says, “I had met families who told me there were five parents — either a mother or a father — that they knew directly who died of a heart attack over the grief of it.”

Pray for God’s mercy and comfort for these families as they hope and wait. Pray for faithful endurance and miraculous deliverance of the boys, girls, and adult staff of the school. 

Gospel ministry is urgent

In the spiritual battleground of northern Nigeria, Unknown Nations’ partners continue to seek opportunities to share the good news of Christ — even today.

Nigerian children. (Photo courtesy of Victor Nnakwe/Unsplash)

“Our missionaries are working in these areas, and so it puts them in harm’s way. It puts their villages in harm’s way. A lot of times, people are scattering out of these areas. And what it does is it perpetuates the state of fear,” says Kelley. 

“There’s 100 million people who live in northern Nigeria, so it’s a massive concentration of population. Every single family now is going to be thinking twice about, ‘Do I send my child to school?’” 

Nigeria has a large Christian population in the south, but little momentum for gospel mission, says Kelley. 

“We need the church in the south to come to a place of desperation and brokenness where it’s finally mobilizing itself and sending missionaries into the north,” Kelley says. “Let’s remember, they don’t need a visa, they don’t need even a passport. They just need to get in a vehicle and drive north, and they have [an] abundance of resources to do it.” 

Ask God to stir up a greater passion for the Great Commission among believers in southern Nigeria, that they may find their place in gospel ministry to the north. 

Header photo of Nigerian church courtesy of Tosin Superson via Pexels.

Pastor Koh was driving to a meeting in 2017 when a convoy of masked men surrounded his car. Security footage showed at least 13 men and several vehicles kidnapping him from the street. Pastor Koh hasn’t been seen since.

When Susanna reported him missing, police questioned her about their ministry to Muslims instead of looking for her husband.

(Photo of Raymond Koh and his wife, courtesy TheStar.com)

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA (VOM) says Pastor Koh was targeted — not just for sharing the Gospel, but for who he was reaching.

Nettleton explains, in Malaysia, “Persecution of Christians is very much dependent on your ethnicity. If you are Chinese, like Pastor Raymond Koh, then that’s fine for you to be a Christian. But if you are ethnically Malay, according to the constitution of the country, you are a Muslim…. Pastor Raymond was accused of reaching out to ethnic Malay Muslims with the Gospel.”

Susanna sued the Malaysian government and several police officers in 2020 after the nation’s Human Rights Commission found evidence of state involvement. In this week’s ruling, the judge confirmed that evidence showed police acted under government orders — not as rogue officers.

Although Nettleton says the decision may be appealed, Susanna called the verdict a step toward closure.

“That is good news for this family that has been suffering now for almost nine years, waking up every morning wondering, ‘Where is Pastor Raymond Koh? Is he alive? Is he dead? Is he sick? Is he well? Is he being mistreated?”

Nettleton says, “Hopefully, the ruling and especially the ongoing nature of the penalty will produce some really concrete answers about what happened to him and where he is.”

Malaysian flag (Photo courtesy of Izdihar Sahalan/Unsplash)

Pray that the truth of Pastor Raymond Koh’s fate would come to light. And — for the mission dear to his heart — pray for all peoples in Malaysia to know Jesus Christ.

“We want to pray for [Susanna], for God’s protection over her and her family,” Nettleton says. “But I think the biggest thing today is just, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for this judgment. Thank you, Lord, for steps taken towards closure for this family, towards knowing what happened; and please protect them and open the vaults of information. Allow them to know the truth.”

Header photo: Pastor Raymond Koh, center, with his wife Susanna and their family. (Photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA)

In a hearing in mid-October, Susanna was supposed to receive another report from the Special Task Force that might reveal the truth about her husband’s fate. 

However, the case is far from over.

Malaysia is No. 49 on the World Watch List from Open Doors. (Courtesy of VOM USA on Facebook.)

“They (the Malaysian government) clearly do not want to admit government involvement. They don’t want to admit that the Special Branch (of the police) was going after a Christian pastor, a Christian leader,” says Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA. 

“It seems like what the government is doing is they are trying to blame an individual who was a contract worker in the Special Branch of the police.”

The individual in question is Saiful Bahari Abd Aziz. His gold Toyota was seen at or near the scenes of not only Raymond Koh’s abduction in 2017 but also that of a social activist called Amri Che Mat, who disappeared in 2016. 

“Rather than saying the Special Branch is corrupt and that this (Koh’s kidnapping) was a government action, they’re going to try to paint the picture of ‘Well, yeah, that guy did have a police contract, but it was just him. He’s a rogue officer. It wasn’t a systemic thing,’” Nettleton says.

As much the Malaysian government wishes to distance itself from Saiful, it’s pretty hard to deny its ties.

“It’s not like he signed a contract three months before the abduction of Raymond Koh. He had been involved with the Special Branch for more than a decade by that time,” Nettleton says. “It’s going to be interesting to see what happens now in the next hearing, and see how Susanna and her attorneys will respond to that theory.”

The government is also claiming “forced disappearance” is the wrong term in Koh’s case, since they didn’t outright deny Koh had been abducted. At least on paper, the police made an investigation, Nettleton says.

Malaysia flag (Photo courtesy of Mkjr/Unsplash)

“There’s a fair amount of smoke and mirrors that’s going on. ‘Let’s argue about what what we call it (forced disappearance or something else),’ instead of talking about ‘Where is Pastor, Raymond Koh? What happened to him?’” Nettleton says.

This is an ongoing story we’ll keep you updated on. But there’s something each of us can do now for our brother and sister in Christ, Raymond and Susanna Koh. 

“I would encourage people to pray specifically for the judge in this cases to have wisdom and discernment and courage to stand up and say, ‘No, this is not about what the government wants. This is about finding out the truth,’” Nettleton says. 

Pray also for Susanna, who has been deeply encouraged to know that Christians around the world are praying for her and her children as they wait. 

For more, listen to an October 2024 podcast episode from Voice of the Martyrs Canada titled “Malaysia: Where is Pastor Raymond Koh?” Learn about what Christians in Malaysia often endure by visiting the World Watch List from Open Doors.

Header photo courtesy of VOM USA. 

“Malaysia is a very interesting place as it relates to persecution because it is almost entirely based on ethnicity,” Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA explains.

“If you are Chinese, you can be a Christian [with] no trouble. If you’re ethnic Indian, you can go to church. But if you are an ethnic Malay person, you are required to be a Muslim. The government says you only have one option.”

Even the appearance of talking to Malays about Christ can get believers into serious trouble. Pastor Raymond Koh is a prime example.

“Pastor Raymond Koh was involved in ministry to the downtrodden. He was representing Jesus to the people in Malaysia,” Nettleton says.

A simple misunderstanding led to Pastor Koh’s abduction in 2017. He was thought to be sharing the Gospel with ethnic Malay people. Although that wasn’t the case, Pastor Koh remains missing today with no clues to his whereabouts.

Pray for favor as VOM USA supports front-line workers and persecuted Malay Christians.

“Voice of the Martyrs is involved in encouraging and equipping believers there,” Nettleton says.

“Being a voice for Malaysian Christians, for those who face persecution, is a key part of VOM’s ministry, as well as helping on the ground in hostile areas and restricted nations.”

Header image is a representative photo depicting the Malaysian flag. (Photo courtesy of Engin Akyurt/Pexels)

“This has never been seen publicly; it’s never been published before,” Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says.

“The judge has ordered the government to turn it over to Susanna and her attorneys, as she is in the process of suing the government and suing, individually, some leadership within the Special Branch of the Malaysian police. They are the ones accused of the forced disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh.”

(Capture of Raymond Koh and his wife, courtesy TheStar.com)

Koh’s wife, Susanna, has been pressing for answers since he disappeared in February 2017.

“If the abduction hadn’t been accidentally caught on a security camera, it would be as if he fell off the face of the earth,” Nettleton says. “His car has never been found. He has never been seen or heard from since that day.”

Susanna began her lawsuit in 2020 after being repeatedly refused answers by officials.

“She told me when she went to an attorney and said, ‘Hey, I want to sue the government,’ the attorney asked, ‘Are you serious?! This is the same government that made your husband disappear.’ But she says, ‘Yes, I want to know the truth,’” Nettleton says.

“She wants to know what happened to [her] husband. It seems like the government has been covering up from the beginning.”

A simple misunderstanding led officials to target Pastor Koh. He was thought to be sharing the Gospel with ethnic Malay people, an unforgivable crime in Malaysia. More about persecution in Malaysia here.

“Subsequently, he (Koh) was mailed a box with bullets inside of it – not a very subtle way to threaten someone – and then in 2017, he disappeared,” Nettleton says.

Pray that the government will release the full report and that the truth will be revealed. Additionally, “pray for Susanna,” Nettleton requests.

“This has been a very long road for her and a very stressful process, so let’s pray that the Lord encourages her and sustains her.”

Header image depicts the Koh family before Pastor Raymond Koh’s forced disappearance in 2017. (Photo courtesy of VOM USA)

On February 13, 2017, Koh’s car was surrounded, stopped and taken captive by a group of government men. The incident was caught on a nearby security camera. That is the last anyone has seen or heard of Pastor Koh, despite the tireless advocacy of his wife, Susannah, and the international attention his story has received. 

(Courtesy of VOM USA on Facebook.)

Recently, Susannah (Liew) Koh sued the government of Malaysia for negligence in Koh’s case. In 2019 the human rights commission in Malaysia said the special branch of the police were the ones who abducted Koh. But no further explanation for his disappearance has been given. They have been in court this week. 

Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs USA says, “Susannah told me [that] when she went to a lawyer and said, ‘I want to sue the Malaysian government,’ the lawyer looked at her and was like, ‘Are you crazy? This is the government that made your husband disappear, and now you want to sue them? What do you think is going to happen to you?’ And her boldness and her fortitude to say, ‘No, I want answers. I understand that it’s risky.’” 

Koh’s family has applied to the court to access a special task force report about his abduction. The file is currently classified. Please pray with the Kohs for truth to come out and for patience in the grueling process.

(Capture of Raymond Koh and his wife, courtesy TheStar.com)

“I know from [Susannah] saying it, how important it has been for her to know that she’s not alone and to know that the body of Christ is connected to her and is participating with her in this time of trial,” Nettleton says. 

“As the court hearings are happening literally this week, what what better time, what more strategic time is there to pray for justice and to pray that the truth will be revealed?”

If you haven’t already, you can join tens of thousands of people who have signed a petition to the Malaysian government for information about Pastor Koh. Learn more about the American Center for Law and Justice’s petition here, and about VOM’s petition at releaseraymond.com. 

“The [petition] call is the same one that Susannah Koh is making in court this week in Malaysia: Open the records, tell the truth. Explain what happened to this pastor who disappeared seven years ago,” says Nettleton. 

Header photo of the Koh family courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs USA.

Voice of the Martyrs Canada partner John Joseph Hayab describes three factors driving Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis. “One: religion. Two: money; and the third: political power,” Hayab says in a recent edition of Closer to the Fire.

Not every kidnapping qualifies as persecution, but many do. More Christians were kidnapped in Nigeria than in any other country in 2023.

“As a church leader in Kaduna state, I know the difference between attacks that are mainly to convert people to religion. I know also attacks that are for money,” Hayab says.

“What is happening in northern Nigeria today has a lot of religious ground. They (perpetrators) could kidnap other people, whether they are Christians or Muslims, and just collect money and then go; but for killing, they restrict that to Christians, especially pastors,” he continues.

“There’s a deliberate ploy to ensure that Christians suffer.”

Occasionally, believers are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. “We must differentiate those with a religious agenda from those simply looking for food,” Hayab says.

Boko Haram leader mocks Nigerian government following abduction of hundreds of Chibok schoolgirls in 2014.
(Screenshot)

Emboldened by the government’s lackluster response against high-profile abductions, Nigerians in need who “saw the government was not coming after them started kidnapping,” he adds.

“If it is just a bandit, [they] will pick people in their homes or on the road and collect money. They were simply kidnapping to get money because they were hungry.”

Finally, “political power is a strong tool for the advancement of Islam,” Hayab says, describing the role politics play in kidnappings.

“Before the last election, kidnappings happened [deliberately] because it was a strategy to discourage Christians from coming out to cast their vote. In areas where Christians have run away or left their home, you will see that not many people came out to vote.”

Ask God to help all Nigerians who are bereaved, injured, or traumatized by acts of terror. Pray the Lord will provide for those who have been displaced by violent attacks.

Header image depicts Nigerian children. (Photo courtesy ©EC/ECHO/Anouk Delafortrie via Flickr)

Pastor Raymond Koh was forcibly taken off the street in Malaysia on February 13, 2017. Prior to his disappearance, he and his wife Susanna were getting threats for ministry work and falsely accused of illegally evangelizing Muslims. After Raymond Koh was taken, his case garnered international attention.

Pastor Raymond Koh, Susanna Koh, and their family. (Photo courtesy of The Voice of the Marytrs)

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs says, “The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia did an investigation. Their report blamed the Security Police in Malaysia. But it didn’t force the police to open their records and say, ‘Here’s what happened.’”

Susanna Koh sued the Malaysian government and security police officials, and the trial began earlier this year.

The next hearing will be on December 12 and 14, when Susanna will continue her statement.

Nettleton says, “I’ll never forget interviewing Susanna and she said, ‘You know, every morning, I wake up and I wonder, ‘What happened to my husband? Is he alive? Is he dead? Is he sick? Is he well? Are they torturing him? Are they taking care of him? What’s happening with my husband?’

“The thought of waking up every morning for now more than six years, having to have that internal conversation, I hope that motivates our listeners to pray for her and to pray for this legal process.”

Please pray justice for the Koh family.

For Susanna, specifically, Nettleton says, “Pray for her to have wisdom and encouragement as she is pursuing this process and really pursuing answers.”

Click here to sign the petition for Raymond Koh’s release and for the Malaysian government to release any and all information related to his disappearance.

Header photo of Malaysia flag. (Photo courtesy of Mkjr/Unsplash)

Swat has been called the Switzerland of Pakistan due to its snow-capped mountains. The area was once a Taliban stronghold until extensive military operations removed them.

Now, armed men can once again be seen roaming the streets. Nehemiah with FMI says, “A video of a young Pakistani army major allegedly being held hostage has been shared multiple times on social media. The official can be seen sitting on the ground with his hands tied behind his back while he is being interrogated. A soldier and a Deputy Superintendent of Police [can be seen] lying on the ground.”

“The sad part of the story is the Pakistani government and military is quiet. We haven’t seen any official statement.”

People in the region now live in fear, especially Christian and other minorities.

Nehemiah asks readers to pray for FMI partners working in Swat. “They are living in the fear of death. Their lives are on the line. But we praise God for their steadfastness. In Swat, FMI has massive on-ground safe houses and ministry partnerships.”

Ask God to bring peace and healing to Swat and the surrounding areas.

TTP

The TTP has a dark history within Pakistan, Nehemiah says. “Their policy is no mercy. They kill in every corner of Pakistan; executions, suicide bombings inside churches, mosques, shrines, bazaars, malls, you name it. In schools, they killed more than 150 students and teachers. Although they are banned, we can see their movement in Pakistan is common.”

Their goal? Promoting and enforcing strict religious law throughout the country.

The header photo shows a vista from the mountains in Swat. (Photo courtesy of Designer429, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Despite heavy fighting in the area, he stayed behind to take care of those who cannot flee. Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says, “So over a week ago now, [he was] detained by Russian troops and apparently injured. We don’t know if he was injured while in detention. But reportedly he is under medical care, and is still being held by the Russian troops.”

Kharkiv

Fighting in the Kharkiv region took a turn earlier this month when Ukrainian troops pushed the Russian military all the way back to the border.

The city of Kharkiv is safe from shelling at the moment, but many people in outlying towns still live in their basements. Nettleton says, “Salfetnikov was in the part that is most being affected by the Russian invasion. Yet he chose to stay there because he wanted to serve his flock. He wanted to serve Christ. I think we can pray for other believers to have that same selfless courage to put aside their own safety and maybe their own wishes.

“He believed the important right now is serving the Lord and serving his people.’”

Pray for Salfetnikov’s release, as well as the safety of his wife and son-in-law, whose whereabouts are unknown.

The header photo shows Pastor Alexander Salfetnikov during a service. (Photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA on Facebook)