Kidnapped Redeemed Christian Church of God pastor escapes from Boko Haram

A pastor held captive by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria has managed to escape, SaharaReporters.com reports.

Pastor Rotimi Obajimi, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Borno/Yobe province, was abducted en route to Maiduguri on 6 January.

A pastor in Maiduguri told SaharaReporters that Obajimi appeared out of nowhere and has since revealed details of his captivity, saying he was tied down for two months in Sambisa Forest before being moved to an unknown location and then returned back to the Sambisa Forest again.

Obajimi revealed he had finally managed to break free from his captors after 10 months when a particularly heavy downpour triggered floods that swept into the camp where he was being held.

He fled through the forest and after two days of wandering, found Nigerian troops in a village who were able to bring him to Maiduguri.

The unnamed pastor at the Maiduguri church told SaharaReporters: "We were so amazed to see him because we have been praying earnestly for [a] long time trusting Jesus that he would surely come back, but lo and behold he was brought to our headquarters in Maiduguri by the military."

Boko Haram has previous declared its intention to rid Nigeria of Christians but in addition to churches, the militant group has also attacked moderate Muslim communities.

The group was behind the abduction of 276 girls from their school in Chibok, northern Nigeria, on April 14. Most of the girls remain in captivity despite international efforts to free them.

There are concerns for their welfare and Oladimeji Thomas, a Christian counsellor working with some of the few who escaped, said one girl had told of being raped up to 15 times a day by different men.