Plateau State has once again been thrown into mourning following the killing of Pastor Hills Emmanuel, a former Dunamis Church pastor and founder of The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry in Bokkos.
Pastor Emmanuel was reportedly abducted on Friday, August 28, 2026, alongside Pastor Gabriel Joseph Dipak of the Christ Apostolic Church while travelling from Jos to Bokkos.
According to reports from local sources and conflict journalist Masara Kim, the two clerics were among nine passengers travelling in a commercial minivan when armed men reportedly mounted a roadblock along the Barkin Ladi–Bokkos Road. Witnesses claimed the roadblock was located less than a mile from military checkpoints on the route.
The attackers reportedly stopped the vehicle, forced Pastor Emmanuel and Pastor Dipak out and robbed the remaining passengers of their phones, cash and other valuables before allowing them to leave.
The following morning, Saturday, August 29, Pastor Emmanuel’s body was reportedly discovered close to the location where the two pastors had been abducted. His death was subsequently reported by several Nigerian media outlets.
Pastor Emmanuel was a Ghanaian-Nigerian cleric who had previously served as a pastor with Dunamis Church before establishing The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry in Bokkos. His death has sparked renewed concern over the security situation facing residents, religious leaders and travellers across parts of Plateau State.
At the time of the initial reports, Pastor Dipak was still being held by the abductors, who had reportedly contacted his family. Subsequent reporting by Open Doors stated that Dipak was later released and returned to his family.
The abduction and killing were reportedly part of a wider wave of violence across Plateau State that night. Separate attacks were reported in communities within Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Mangu Local Government Areas, with at least four additional people reportedly killed and another person injured.
The incidents have once again highlighted the persistent security challenges in Plateau State, particularly in communities around Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Mangu, where attacks, killings, displacement and abductions have repeatedly raised concerns among residents.
The circumstances surrounding Pastor Emmanuel’s death have also intensified questions about the effectiveness of security measures along vulnerable highways. The reported proximity of the ambush to military checkpoints has particularly heightened public concern and calls for stronger preventive security operations.
For Christian communities, the incident is being viewed not only as another tragic killing in Plateau State but also as a painful reminder of the dangers faced by religious leaders and civilians living in conflict-affected areas.
While reports have described the attackers in different ways, the identities and motives of the perpetrators should ultimately be established through a proper investigation by the relevant Nigerian security authorities. It is important not to present allegations as established facts until officially confirmed.
Pastor Hills Emmanuel leaves behind a wife and five children, according to later reports. His death has therefore left not only a church community grieving but also a family facing the devastating consequences of violence.
As Plateau State continues to grapple with insecurity, many Nigerians are once again asking difficult questions about the protection of vulnerable communities and the ability of security agencies to prevent attacks before lives are lost.
For those mourning Pastor Emmanuel and other victims of the violence, the immediate call is for justice, accountability and lasting peace.
And for Christians concerned about the safety of believers in conflict-affected communities, the message remains simple: keep praying for the persecuted Church, for the victims, for their families and for peace in Plateau State and across Nigeria.
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