Police released them but instructed Ngwenche to arrange for Idi to be taken back to his hometown of Ningi. But Idi told police that he would not go back to his village, as his family would kill him for renouncing Islam.

Abducted Again

After Ngwenche and Idi returned to Akwanga, on September 12 the Muslim militants again abducted Idi. Ngwenche again reported his abduction at the Akwanga police station that same day. The police asked him to go home but report back the following day if Idi did not return.

"I returned the following day to the police station when Idi did not return home," Ngwenche said. "I was arrested by the police and detained."

Police again took him to Lafia, where they held him in detention for seven days, he said. Ngwenche's church helped him to win bail.

"I have now been told to produce the Muslim convert, even when the police know that it is the Muslims that abducted Idi," Ngwenche said. "My fear is that he will be killed. We have raised teams of searchers to help rescue Idi."

Police have told Ngwenche that if he does not produce Idi before the end of the year - in the next two weeks - he runs the risk of going back into detention.

Though not a clear majority, Muslims have large populations in Nasarawa state. Some officials in the state have campaigned for sharia to be imposed, as in 12 northern states, but so far without success.