How Kids’ Prayers Melted the Hearts of Kidnappers
By Douglas Burton
(Washington) “The day they came to my house, my wife was away visiting her mother’s village, so the terrorists could not find her to kidnap her,” recalled Tanimu Solomon, 50, as he recalls his recent ordeal at the hands of radicalized Fulani ethnic militia. The Fulani tribe has as many as 10 million members in Nigeria, and a large faction of this tribe make their living by kidnapping members of other tribes for ransom. These men uniformly proclaim Islamism as their credo.
The fifteen turbaned men carrying rifles had broken into his family’s compound in Kusheka [Ku-she-kah} Village, Kauru County in Nigeria’s state of Kaduna.
“Unfortunately, they kidnapped five of my children: Susanna Solomon, 12, a junior secondary-school student, Shekina Solomon, 14-years old, Andrew Solomon, 17-years old, who was seeking admission to the university; Beatrice Solomon, 28-years-old and Zippora Solomon, 31, as well as two relatives and our housekeeper, said Tanimu with a Job-like face.
“On January 7, 2025, Fulani terrorists, about 15 of them heavily armed, invaded our village. They went from house to house, kidnapping villagers — most of whom were Christians,” he said.
“After several days of fear and anxiety, the terrorists called me and demanded a ransom of nine million naira ($5,000), recharge cards worth 200,000 naira, and two non-android phones,” he told TruthNigeria.
“They warned me that if the demands were not met within two weeks, all eight members of my family in their custody would be slaughtered. I eventually gathered everything they asked for and delivered it,” he went on to say. “But after receiving the items, they demanded an additional two million naira and two motorbikes.
Prayers Against More Threats
“Despite paying the ransom, we were still afraid because we knew from past experience that Fulani terrorists often kill some of their victims even after collecting ransom,” Tanimu said. “While we were trying to raise money for our children’s release, my wife — who had returned from her mother’s village — joined me in daily prayers. Every morning, we prayed for God to protect our children from being killed. Even after the payment, the terrorists sent a message saying the money was not complete, so they would not release the children,” Tanimu said.
“We were heartbroken, but we held on to God and continued to pray,” he went on to say.
St. Valentine’s Day Miracle
“On the morning of February 14, 2025, my wife and I prayed again, asking God to protect and save our children. That very afternoon, we received a call informing us that Andrew Solomon, Shekina Solomon, and Zippora Solomon had been released.
“When we asked why, we were told that on the same morning we were praying, David and his sisters were also praying in the terrorists’ camp, asking God to touch the hearts of their captors and lead them to repentance. The terrorists were surprised that the “infidels” they captured were actually praying for their souls. They were so moved by this that they decided not to kill the children, as was their usual practice.
“That morning, they released the three children and asked us to come and pick them up. As a sign of goodwill, they also promised not to harm the two remaining children still in captivity.”
Final Release
“On February 28, 2025, the terrorists called again. They asked if I had managed to raise the balance they had demanded. When I told them I hadn’t, they said I should bring whatever I could afford.
“I gathered what little money I had left and took it to them. By God’s grace, they released the last two children. Before letting them go, the terrorists admitted that my children had disturbed them constantly with prayers,” Tanimu said.
“I paid 15 million naira to secure my family’s release,” he said. “But I know for certain it was God who preserved their lives through our constant prayers. My name is Tanimu Solomon, and to God be the glory!”
Douglas Burton is the managing editor of TruthNigeria.com TruthNigeria reporters in Kaduna contributed to this report.
