Pastor abducted following raid on worship service in Nigeria

Pastor abducted following raid on worship service in Nigeria

Gunmen raided a worship service in Nigeria Nov. 19, then followed the fleeing pastor to his residence and ultimately abducted him.

The raid and abduction occurred in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area in Nigeria’s Enugu State, reported the relief group Barnabas Fund.

When the church’s minister, Victor Ishiwu, and congregants fled the raid on the worship service, the assailants followed Ishiwu to his nearby home. They demanded he come outside his home or risk having the church set ablaze.

The gunmen broke into Ishiwu’s house and kidnapped him when he refused to follow their orders.

Christians under attack

In Nigeria, Islamist extremists frequently target Christians for violence. Abductions of ministers and believers are commonplace, stated Barnabas Fund.

Nigeria is No. 7 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian. Nigeria has led the world in the number of Christians killed for their faith or kidnapped.

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