Christian Farmer Flees Abuja As Priest Is Killed And Mass Kidnappings Surge In Nigeria (Worthy News In-Depth)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

ABUJA/LAGOS (Worthy News) – A Christian farmer and evangelist in Nigeria said Monday he had fled to Lagos with his family after an Anglican priest kidnapped in the northwest last month was killed in captivity.

Paul Jongas, 54, explained to Worthy News that he and his wife and three children made the 780 kilometers (about 485 miles) from Abuja, the capital, to Lagos following numerous threats from Islamists.

Earlier this year, he told BosNewsLife that gunmen had entered his land, making clear his presence wasn’t appreciated. He called it a miracle that he was not abducted or killed.

Separately, his Christian neighbor, Luka Gabriel, a married father of three, was abducted in June outside the gate of the Abuja apartment complex where Jongas lived.

“I heard gunshots. Then in the morning, I learned he was kidnapped,” he added at the time. “We finally made it to Lagos,” he told Worthy News.

Lagos, Nigeria’s main city and one of the world’s largest urban centers, is known for its vibrant Christian community and many churches. “We hope we can be safe here,” added Jangas, a married father of three. “I am currently staying in the home of a brother [in Christ], but we hope to find something where we could live,” she stressed.

PRIEST MURDERED AFTER MONTH IN CAPTIVITY

He spoke as the head of the Church of Nigeria confirmed that Venerable Edwin Achi, abducted with his wife and daughter from their home in Kaduna state on October 28, was killed after a month in captivity.

“With profound sorrow, we announce the tragic death of our beloved priest… who was brutally murdered after enduring a monthlong abduction,” Archbishop Henry Ndakuba said.

His wife and daughter remain missing.

Amid the violence, there was a rare sign of hope. President Bola Tinubu announced that all 24 schoolgirls seized on November 17 from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State’s Maga town were rescued.

One girl escaped on the day of the abduction; the remaining 24 were recovered, Tinubu said, adding that “more boots on the ground” are urgently needed to protect vulnerable communities.

Parents told local media they were overwhelmed with relief after days of fear.

HUNDREDS ABDUCTED; 50 STUDENTS ESCAPE IN NIGER STATE

The Kebbi attack was part of a wider kidnapping wave, including a mass abduction of more than 300 students and staff from Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State. At least 50 students escaped over the weekend, authorities confirmed.

Police also reported fresh kidnappings in Kwara State, where ten people were seized just 19 kilometers (12 miles) from a church where 38 worshippers had previously been abducted. Those 38 were later freed, officials said.

Analysts warn that criminal and Islamist-linked groups increasingly target schools as “strategic sites” for ransom and attention.

With attacks rising across the nation, President Bola Tinubu declared a national security emergency, ordering the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, redeploying security personnel from VIP duties, and authorizing the establishment of military retraining camps.

Nigeria has seen at least 1,500 students kidnapped since the infamous Chibok abductions more than a decade ago.

The surge comes as U.S. President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly highlighted Christian persecution in Nigeria, though both Christians and Muslims are affected by the broader wave of armed violence.

NIGERIA AMONG MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES FOR CHRISTIANS

Nigeria ranks among the most violent countries in the world for Christians on the Open Doors World Watch List.

Thousands of believers are killed annually, with many more abducted, displaced, or targeted in land-seizure campaigns by Islamist and bandit groups.

For Jongas and others, the hope of safety in Lagos offers temporary relief.

Yet the fear of being pursued remains. “They keep close eyes on whoever they want to abduct,” he warned. “Please continue praying for my family.”

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