Pastor Hills Emmanuel Found Dead After He Was Abducted By Gunmen In Plateau

A former Dunamis Church pastor, Hills Emmanuel, has been found dead after he was reportedly abducted by gunmen on the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos road in Plateau State.

The incident was part of a series of attacks reported in three local government areas of the state between Friday night and Saturday, with four other people also said to have been killed.

Pastor Hils Emmanuel, who previously served as a pastor with Dunamis Church, was the founder of The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry in Bokkos.

Reports from conflict journalist Masara Kim and other media sources said Emmanuel was travelling from Jos to Bokkos on Friday with another cleric, Gabriel Dipak of the Christ Apostolic Church.

The two pastors were reportedly among nine passengers in a commercial minivan when gunmen stopped the vehicle along the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos road.

The attackers allegedly collected money and mobile phones from the passengers before allowing them to leave.

Police were later said to have recovered the stolen belongings from the scene, while Emmanuel’s body was reportedly discovered early Saturday close to the location where the passengers were stopped.

Gabriel Dipak, however, was still reportedly being held by the abductors as of Saturday afternoon.

The kidnappers were said to have contacted his family, although it was unclear whether they had demanded a ransom.

Other attacks were also reported in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Mangu local government areas.

In Fang village, Bachi District of Riyom, a woman was reportedly killed at about 9 p.m. on Friday.

Two more people were said to have been killed in Radura village, Fann District of Barkin Ladi, while another person was reportedly injured during an attack in Chakfem village, Mangu.

If confirmed, the separate incidents would put the reported death toll at five, including Emmanuel.

The Plateau State Police Command had not confirmed the incidents at the time of filing this report.

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