Plateau Violence Escalates as Pastor Is Found Dead and Colleague Remains Missing
Plateau State has been rocked by a wave of coordinated attacks, resulting in at least five deaths, including a pastor abducted and killed. The incidents, reported by Masara Kim, detail the abduction of two clerics and multiple other assaults across various communities, raising concerns about ongoing violence.
At least five people have been killed in separate attacks across Plateau State, including Pastor Hills Emmanuel, a Ghanaian-Nigerian cleric and founder of The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry in Bokkos.
Emmanuel and Pastor Gabriel Joseph Dipak of the Christ Apostolic Church were abducted on Friday, August 28, while travelling from Jos to Bokkos along the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos road. According to conflict reports, armed men reportedly intercepted their commercial minivan at a roadblock situated less than a mile from military checkpoints on both sides of the route.
The attackers reportedly released the other passengers after taking their phones and cash, with police later recovering the belongings at the scene. Emmanuel's body was discovered early Saturday near the location of the abduction, while Pastor Dipak remained missing as of Saturday afternoon, with reports indicating that his family had been contacted by the abductors.
The circumstances surrounding Emmanuel's death and the identities of those responsible had not been independently verified, while the specific demands made in relation to Dipak remained unclear.
The abduction occurred amid three other attacks reported across Plateau on Friday night, leaving three additional people dead and another injured. A woman was reportedly killed in Fang village in Riyom LGA, while two people were killed in Radura village in Barkin Ladi LGA and another person was injured in Chakfem village, Mangu LGA.
The concentration of attacks across multiple communities within hours has renewed concerns about the persistent security threats facing residents and travellers across Plateau State.