A former Dunamis Church pastor, Hills Emmanuel, has been found dead after he was abducted alongside another cleric while travelling on the Jos-Bokkos road in Plateau State, according to reports.
Emmanuel, who founded The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry in Bokkos, was reportedly abducted on Friday, August 28, alongside Pastor Gabriel Dipak of the Christ Apostolic Church.
The two clerics were among nine passengers travelling in a commercial minivan along the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos road when armed men reportedly mounted a roadblock and intercepted the vehicle. The attackers allegedly seized phones and cash from the other passengers before releasing them. Police later reportedly recovered the stolen belongings at the scene.
Emmanuel’s body was reportedly discovered early Saturday near the area where the abduction occurred. Dipak was still believed to be in captivity as of Saturday afternoon, with reports indicating that his abductors had contacted his family. It was not immediately clear whether a ransom demand had been made.
The reported killing came amid a series of separate attacks in parts of Plateau State.
According to Premium Times, a woman was reportedly killed in Fang village in Riyom Local Government Area, while two other people were reportedly killed in Radura village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. At least one person was also reportedly injured in an attack in Chakfem village, Mangu Local Government Area.
If confirmed, the separate incidents would bring the reported death toll from the attacks to five, including Emmanuel. However, the Plateau State Police Command had not independently confirmed the incidents at the time of the report, and the identities of the perpetrators remained unclear.
Reports suggesting that the same group carried out the separate attacks could also not be independently verified.
The latest incidents have renewed concerns over the security situation in Plateau State, particularly in communities around Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Mangu, which have experienced recurring violence and abductions.
For residents, the reported killing of Emmanuel is particularly troubling because it highlights the vulnerability of people travelling on roads connecting rural communities to larger urban centres.
The incident also raises questions about the effectiveness of existing security measures and whether communities and travellers can rely on them for protection against armed attacks and kidnapping.
For families affected by abductions, the danger does not necessarily end when negotiations over ransom begin. Hostages can remain exposed to violence even while their relatives attempt to secure their release, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of kidnapping cases.
The reported death of Emmanuel has once again placed the security of rural communities and travellers in Plateau State under scrutiny.
Beyond the immediate rescue of those still missing, residents are likely to demand stronger intelligence gathering, improved security along vulnerable highways and faster responses to distress calls.
Authorities will also face pressure to establish what happened to Emmanuel, identify those responsible and determine whether the separate attacks were connected.
The circumstances surrounding the reported killings remain subject to investigation, and claims about the motives or identities of the attackers should be treated cautiously until officially established.
For Plateau communities already living with recurring insecurity, however, the latest violence represents another reminder of the human cost of kidnapping and armed attacks — and of the urgent need for effective protection of civilians.
