Nigerian Christian Sheriff Yongo, 25, was ambushed and murdered by suspected Fulani militants as he walked home at night from a church convention in Adamawa State.
Sheriff’s two companions, Gambo Dong and Benedict Paul, managed to escape the attack on 5 March at Dong village in Demsa Local Government Area of the north-eastern state.
Gambo said they were returning from an evening session of the convention when they were picked out in the light of torches shone by members of the waiting armed gang.
“We ran into the bush while Sheriff was caught by the assailants,” he explained. “We waited to see him but to no avail, only to discover his body was macheted, battered and his hand and fingers cut off.”
Gambo added, “These brutal killings have been persistent along Dong axis. We lost so many youths and kidnappings have also been on the increase.”
Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province are waging a terror campaign in north-eastern Nigeria. Pastor Joel Billi, head of one of the largest Christian denominations in the region, called in 2020 for urgent action to halt the relentless jihadi killings, abductions and rapes. In an attack on Christmas Eve 2020 in Adamawa State, jihadists abducted at least 20 Christians and lined up five to be shot. The terrorists described the atrocity as a “Christmas present”.
Lift up in prayer Sheriff Yongo’s grieving family and friends, in particular Gambo and Benedict, and ask the Lord to wipe the tears from their eyes. Call on the Lord to restore peace to the region and that the men of violence will repent their wickedness.
