Jihad Violence: Nigerian Anglicans mourn priest murdered by islamic kidnappers

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Church leaders called on the Federal Government to deploy the security services in response to bandit threats.

‘This kind of violence and cruelty that continues to ravage communities has no place in any society that seeks peace and prosperity for its citizens,’ said Archbishop Henry Ndukuba.​

Terrorists in northern Nigeria killed an abducted Anglican priest after his family and Church could not raise the ransom they demanded.


Venerable Edwin Achi was seized with his wife and daughter early on the morning of 28 October at their home in Kaduna State. On 26 November, the kidnappers reportedly released a picture of the priest and his wife, as well other abductees, and threatened to kill them if the family did not meet their ₦200 million (£100,000) ransom demand.


A relative said that the family was distraught because “nobody has that kind of ransom lying around”, adding: “The kidnappers’ initial demand was a ridiculous ask of ₦600 million, but that has since gone lower, around ₦200 million or thereabouts now. And of an ultimatum, they threatened that if by this weekend the ransom demand isn’t met, they will be ‘unalived’.”


Meanwhile, the Anglican Church of Nigeria condemned the killing and demanded that the Federal Government expose and punish the sponsors of violent attacks across the country. The Church also called for the immediate release of Achi’s wife and daughter, who remain in captivity.


A statement signed by Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, said the murder “wounds” the conscience of the nation.


Ndukuba praised the late cleric as a faithful servant of God whose life of sacrifice and compassion was cut short in circumstances that demonstrate the worsening insecurity affecting communities nationwide.


“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, these senseless acts of evil. This kind of violence and cruelty that continues to ravage communities and tear families apart has no place in any society that seeks peace and prosperity for its citizens,” he said.


Kaduna police representatives did not respond to requests for comment.


In Kogi State, in Nigeria’s Central region, bandits attacked the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba on Sunday, kidnapping is pastor, his wife and several worshippers.


Eijiba, a community in Yagba West Local Government Area, is about 30 km away from Eruku, where 38 worshippers were abducted about two weeks ago.


Locals reported that worshippers ran fled the church as bandits fired sporadic gunshots. They seized pastor of the church, known as Orlando, along with his wife and an unspecified number of others.


The state government ordered security operatives pursue the bandits and rescue all the abducted. A police helicopter landed at the scene of the attack after noon. The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed that the state government has intensified surveillance and patrols, and launched a manhunt for the bandits.


“I am also aware that the security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security architecture, is currently doing what they should do. The authorities of Yagba West Local Government Council are working hard with the security agencies to ensure those kidnapped are rescued alive. The perpetrators, too, already know that Kogi will do everything possible to secure every one of its citizens abducted,” he said.


Fanwo also suggested that communities should “reconsider worshipping in crime-prone areas for now until the situation gets better”. The state government urged all citizens to be security-conscious and also report suspicious movement to security agencies: “When you see something, say something.”