Jos: A Christian pastor abducted along with a fellow cleric in Nigeria’s Plateau State was found dead near the site of their abduction, leaving his wife and five children devastated.
Pastor Hills Emmanuel and Pastor Gabriel Joseph Dipak were travelling from Jos to Bokkos on August 28 when armed men reportedly stopped the commercial minibus carrying them and other passengers along the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos road. The attackers reportedly took phones and valuables before singling out the two pastors and taking them away.
Wife recalls desperate plea to spare her husband
According to Mrs Scholastica Emmanuel, she pleaded with the attackers to release her husband after they had taken the passengers’ belongings. She said one of the men warned her that she would not see her husband alive again.
Pastor Emmanuel’s body was discovered the following morning close to where the abduction took place. His colleague, Pastor Dipak, was initially reported missing. Later reports indicated that he was released after being held captive.
Pastor Emmanuel was a former pastor with Dunamis Church and had founded The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry in Bokkos. He was described as a respected Christian leader in the community.
Violence raises fresh fears among Plateau communities
The killing came amid a series of attacks reported across Plateau State, where communities have faced continuing concerns over abductions and deadly violence.
Some reports have attributed the attack to suspected Fulani militants or terrorists, while Nigerian reporting has cautioned that the perpetrators and links between separate attacks could not be independently confirmed by official sources.
The incident has renewed concern among Christian communities and families living in parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where insecurity continues to claim lives and disrupt communities.
For Pastor Emmanuel’s family, the violence has left behind a grieving widow and five children, while his community mourns a pastor remembered for his service and faith.