A 14-year-old Nigerian Christian escaped his Islamic kidnappers last week after more than two years in captivity.

Treasure Ayuba was one of 121 students who were kidnapped by a group of radical Islamic Fulani herdsmen from their school in Kaduna, Nigeria, in July 2021.

Parents were forced to negotiate with the terrorists over ransom payments, local pastor Winyadebi Rolis said, but only some students were freed while the kidnappers upped their demands.

Ayuba’s captors reportedly planned to hold him until he converted to Islam. Ayuba did not and managed to escape instead.

“Treasure somehow managed to sneak away and escape from the extremists,” Winyadebi said. “He walked at night and hid during the day. Eventually he found hunters who took him to his hometown and from there he was able to find his way home.”

Nigeria is one the worst countries in the world for Christian persecution, with thousands being killed every year. Christians in the African nation have accused the government of negligence and asked them to take stronger steps to counter the violence.