Female U.S. Missionary Kidnapped in Nigeria; Abductors Demand $150,000 Ransom

The abductors of an American missionary in Nigeria are demanding ransom payment that has been reduced to $150,000 from the original amount of $300,000.

Rev. Phyllis Sortor was abducted by unidentified men on Monday at Hope Academy in Kogi State, Nigeria. She "works through leadership development and International Child Care Ministries," according to the Free Methodist World Missions website.

Sortor is an administrator at Hoep Academy and its extension school in Ikto Ntuk. She teaches "modular Bible school and Wesley Evangelical School of Theology." She also supports Community Health Evangelism and area women's literacy projects.

While fears remained that she might have been abducted by extremist groups like the Boko Haram, the ransom demand seemed to indicate that a local gang was responsible. Mark Schroeder of the global intelligence firm Stratfor told Fox News, "That's not big money if you are a trans-national jihadist."

"It could be some local gang desperate for cash. Or presidential elections are coming up and this could have been a quick way for a group to extort money basically for rigging an election," he explained.

The church's Bishop Kendall released a statement on Monday to say that authorities have been notified about the abduction.

"Early this morning we received a report that Rev. Phyllis Sortor, our missionary in Nigeria, was abducted from the Hope Academy compound in Emiworo, Kogi State, Nigeria by several persons," he said. "The U.S. Embassy has been notified, and the State Department and the F.B.I. are working with local authorities to find and rescue her. We are calling on the U.S. church to join together in prayer for Phyllis' safety and speedy release."

Sortor's abductors called Mathius Emenike, superintendent of the church, on Tuesday to demand $300,000 but reduced it the following day to $150,000, according to Nigerian news organization Pulse.

"The kidnappers spoke with the superintendent of the missionary church, Mr. Mathius Emenike where the ransom was reduced to N30m. In the conversation, Mrs. Sortor pleaded with Emenike to try by all means and raise the money to enable herto regain her freedom," said Roseline Ojone Shaibu, principal of the school.