At a press conference today, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the release of four Nigerian missionaries who were being held captive since Saturday night in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — the second highest governing body of the Church — joined with Elder Quentin L. Cook, the executive chairman of the Missionary Department, to tell reporters that the missionaries were returned to local Church leader Bishop Sancho N. Chukwu in Port Harcourt and that they are in good spirits.
Elder Ballard said that when news was received that the missionaries had been kidnapped, local Church leaders immediately took the matter to tribal and community leaders. All worked together to help recover the missionaries.
It was reported that while in captivity, the missionaries were treated well and had been in contact with local Church leaders in Port Harcourt. They were finally released at 10:40 pm Nigeria time.
“Any missionary, anywhere in this world, regardless of who he or she may be, is precious to the leadership of the Church," said Elder Ballard. "When any one of them is in danger or at risk, we have great concern. So when we learned they were back in the hands of our priesthood leaders, we rejoiced."
The missionaries are Akande Adebayo Egunjobi, Emeka Henry Ekufu, Uchenna Anthony Eze and Hope Aiboni Isaish. All four young men were not harmed and are in good health.