Plateau: Abducted Pastor Found Dead, Four Others Killed

Plateau State woke up on Saturday to reports of multiple attacks across several communities, with at least five people reportedly killed in separate incidents.

Among those killed was Pastor Hills Emmanuel, a Ghanaian-Nigerian cleric based in Plateau State and founder of The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry in Bokkos.

Emmanuel, a former pastor with Dunamis International Gospel Centre, was reportedly abducted on Friday, August 28, alongside his colleague, Pastor Gabriel Joseph Dipak of Christ Apostolic Church, while travelling from Jos to Bokkos.

According to witnesses, suspected Fulani militants reportedly mounted a roadblock along the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos Road, less than a mile from military checkpoints located on both sides of the route.

The attackers reportedly stopped a commercial minivan carrying nine passengers and forced the two pastors out of the vehicle.

The other passengers were allegedly dispossessed of their phones and cash before being released. Police were later said to have recovered the stolen items at the scene.

Pastor Emmanuel’s body was reportedly found early Saturday morning, August 29, near the location where the abduction occurred.

Later that night, at about 9 p.m., separate attacks were reportedly recorded in communities between 10 and 20 miles from the abduction site.

In Fang village, Bachi District, Riyom Local Government Area, a woman was reportedly killed.

Two people were also reportedly killed in Radura village, Fann District, Barkin Ladi LGA, while at least one person was injured in Chakfem village, Mangu LGA.

The incidents bring the reported toll to five deaths across the separate attacks.

Meanwhile, as of noon on Saturday, the abductors had reportedly contacted the family of Pastor Dipak. Details of any ransom demand were not immediately available.

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The latest incidents have renewed concerns over the security situation in Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt, where communities have suffered repeated attacks and abductions.

Claims that the attacks were carried out by Fulani militants could not be independently verified at the time of filing, while the circumstances and motives behind the separate incidents remained subject to further investigation.