A church pastor in northeast Nigeria was slain on Jan. 26, and anti-Christian violence continued to grow in the southern part of the country with the killing of two Christians in Delta state, Morning Star News reported.
In northeast Nigeria, pastor Jerry Hinjari of Christ Nation International was abducted from his home in Yola, Adamawa state around midnight on Jan. 25, and his body was found on a roadside in the city the next day. The assailants were unknown, though Islamic State West Africa Province members active in the region were suspected.
Several area Christians notified Morning Star News of the death in text messages. Pastor Hinjari’s death left the Yola Christian community in shock, said resident Elijah Sambo said.
“He was passionate about the work of God, a philanthropist and humanitarian who was well known for his diverse service to God and to humanity,” Sambo said.
Another local resident, Wisdom Bassey, prayed for the repentance of the killers.
“May his killers come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior like Saul of Tarsus,” he said. “And may God’s true servants be protected from wicked and unreasonable men and women all over the world.”
Other deaths
In Nigeria’s Delta region, Fulani herdsmen killed two Christians last week and wounded and kidnapped others, area residents said.
In Toru-Angiama village, Patani County in Delta state, police said assailants on Jan. 23 killed two Christians, shot and wounded another and kidnapped several others.
“We’ve recovered two corpses from the area, and one other victim is in the hospital,” Bright Edafe, spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, told Morning Star News. “Efforts are on to rescue those captured by the terrorists. We are also carrying out investigation to determine those behind the attack.”
In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
