Nigeria: Church Elder Shot Dead During Sunday Service

(Worthy News) – A respected elder of the Celestial Church of Christ, Eagle Parish, in Ogun state, Nigeria, was shot dead when three gunmen invaded the Sunday service on January 19, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Aged 54, Yomi Adetula was known by his church community as a man devoted to prayer and service. “Adetula was a man of God who dedicated himself to serving the community,” Adewale Amos, a local community leader, told ICC. “We face challenges from groups that oppose spiritual efforts, and we must advocate for greater awareness and collective action to protect the rights of Christians to worship freely.”

Ogun State Police are investigating Adetula’s murder and seeking to apprehend the killers, ICC reports. While tens of thousands of Christians have been murdered by Islamic terrorists, the gunmen who killed Adetula reportdly belong to a local cult that has been targeting believers in Christ, ICC said.

Home to 106, 608, 000 Christians (46% of the population), Nigeria nevertheless ranks seven on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries that are most dangerous for Christians.

“Jihadist violence continues to escalate in Nigeria, and Christians are particularly at risk from targeted attacks by Islamist militants, including Fulani fighters, Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province),” Open Doors reports in a website statement. “These increased under the rule of former president Muhammadu Buhari, putting Nigeria at the epicentre of targeted violence against the church. The government’s failure to protect Christians and punish perpetrators has only strengthened the militants’ influence.”

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