Nigeria: Evangelical Pastor Murdered in Kaduna State, “We Can No Longer Bear This”

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A Christian pastor in Nigeria’s Kaduna state was ambushed and murdered by gunmen as he traveled to visit members of his church last month, Christian Daily reports.

With tens of thousands of Christians murdered predominantly by Islamic terrorist insurgents since 2009, Nigeria ranks six on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries that are most dangerous for Christians. Kaduna is among several Nigerian states with the highest levels of incessant violence perpetrated against believers.

Rev. Manasseh Ibrahim was traveling along the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna Highway in northern Kaduna state on Apr. 23 when he was shot and killed by men the Birnin Gwari chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described as “bandits,” Christian Daily reports. Pastor Ibrahim was serving with the ECWA Gure congregation under the ECWA Kaduna Central District Church Council (KCDCC).

“Rev. Manasseh Ibrahim, a pastor with ECWA [Evangelical Church Winning All] Church, Gure, was on his way for a pastoral church ministration in the Kurebe area of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state when he was ambushed and killed by the bandits,” local CAN chairman, Rev. Yahaya Kinge, said in a press statement announcing the pastor’s death.

Referencing government inaction in the face of relentless violence suffered by Christians in the Kaduna state, Kinge said: “Christians who are direct victims of banditry and insurgency in Kaduna state are fed up with the inability of Nigeria government to find a lasting solution to the incessant killings of innocent Christians. The hard push of Christians to the wall through incessant attacks is enough; and we can no longer bear this brunt.”

According to the most recent data made available by the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization, 4,118 Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2023 – more than in the rest of the world combined.

Latest Worthy News