Baptist pastor killed on way to church as attacks continue in Nigeria's Plateau State
Baptist pastor Samuel Nandi was shot dead on his way to church Sept. 20 in Plateau State, Nigeria. A curfew is in place and killings are reported through Sept. 25.
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A Baptist pastor was shot dead on his way to Sunday service on Sept. 20 near Dorowa Babuje, in the Barkin Ladi area of Nigeria's Plateau State.
Worthy News and iWitness Live identified him as Samuel Nandi, pastor at Maraban Kantoma. Both quoted the local ward head, Da Sambo Chollom, who said Nandi's son was shot and taken to hospital. Truth Nigeria, cited by Christian Daily International–Morning Star News, reported that the pastor's church secretary was also killed. International Christian Concern (ICC) likewise reported that a church worker died. Chollom's quoted remarks mention only the pastor and his son.
Residents told Christian Daily–Morning Star that five people were killed in Gana-Ropp village on the evening of Sept. 19. According to Daily Trust, the state government put Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu under a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Sept. 21.
ThisDay reported that police spokesman SP Alfred Alabo confirmed two incidents. On the night of Sept. 22, gunmen killed a security operative on the road between Barkin Ladi and Bokkos. Three civilians were also killed at Rakok (Kafi Abu). Christian Daily–Morning Star, citing lawyer and community leader Solomon Mwantiri, reported at least 15 more Christians killed in Barkin Ladi between Sept. 21 and 25.
Early on Sept. 25, troops recovered three bodies in Kassa after reports of gunfire. Daily Post reported this citing security analyst Zagazola Makama, whose security sources suspected a reprisal for a herder killed hours earlier. Separately, Daily Trust reported that a herder was killed and 30 cattle were taken in Mangu on Sept. 24.
On Sept. 23 the Plateau State House of Assembly called for an immediate emergency security intervention in Barkin Ladi.
In Kaduna State, Truth Nigeria reports 34 people abducted between Sept. 13 and 21 and a farmer identified only as Mr. Vinas killed on Sept. 21. We found no independent confirmation.
On Sept. 23, Religion News Service (RNS) reported new partnerships between Christian and Muslim leaders to counter hate speech amid the violence.
Sources
Worthy News: Baptist Pastor Killed As Violence Grips Nigeria’s Plateau State (Sep 23, 2026)
https://www.worthynews.com/117735-baptist-pastor-killed-as-violence-grips-nigerias-plateau-stateArchived copyiWitness Live: Pastor Killed in Plateau as Banditry Claims Over 27 Lives in a Week (Sep 20, 2026)
https://iwitnesslive.com/2026/09/20/pastor-killed-in-plateau-as-banditry-claims-over-27-lives-in-a-week/Archived copyChristian Daily International: Baptist pastor, other Christians killed in attacks in Plateau state, Nigeria (Sep 21, 2026)
https://www.christiandaily.com/news/baptist-pastor-other-christians-killed-in-attacks-in-plateau-state-nigeriaArchived copyMorning Star News: More Christians Killed in Previously Attacked Area in Nigeria (Sep 25, 2026)
https://morningstarnews.org/2026/09/more-christians-killed-in-previously-attacked-area-in-nigeria/Archived copyInternational Christian Concern: Nigerian Pastor, Believer Killed on Their Way to Church (Sep 25, 2026)
https://persecution.org/2026/09/25/nigerian-pastor-believer-killed-on-their-way-to-church/Truth Nigeria: BREAKING: Pastor, 7 Others Killed as Terror Attacks Erupt South of Jos (Sep 21, 2026)
https://truthnigeria.com/2026/09/breaking-pastor-7-others-killed-as-terror-attacks-erupt-south-of-jos/Archived copyThisDay: Curfew Fails to Stop Fresh Attacks in Plateau, as Police Officer, Civilians Killed (Sep 24, 2026)
https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/24/curfew-fails-to-stop-fresh-attacks-in-plateau-as-police-officer-civilians-killed/Daily Trust: Killings: Plateau Assembly demands emergency security intervention (Sep 25, 2026)
https://dailytrust.com/killings-plateau-assembly-demands-emergency-security-intervention/Archived copyDaily Post Nigeria: Three locals reported dead after suspected reprisal attack in Plateau (Sep 25, 2026)
https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/25/three-locals-reported-dead-after-suspected-reprisal-attack-in-plateau/Archived copyTruth Nigeria: Trump Denounces UN Silence, Even While Nigeria Suffers New Wave of Terror (Sep 23, 2026)
https://truthnigeria.com/2026/09/as-trump-denounces-un-silence-nigeria-suffers-new-wave-of-anti-christian-terror/Archived copyReligion News Service: As violence escalates in Nigeria, Christian and Muslim leaders unite (Sep 23, 2026)
https://religionnews.com/2026/09/23/as-violence-escalates-in-nigeria-christian-and-muslim-leaders-unite-in-interfaith-front/Archived copy
Earlier in this story
Corrections and updates
- Update, September 25, 2026: Brief prepared from Worthy News (Sept. 23), iWitness Live (Sept. 20), Christian Daily International (Sept. 21), Morning Star News (Sept. 25), International Christian Concern (Sept. 25), Truth Nigeria (Sept. 21 and Sept. 23), ThisDay (Sept. 24), Daily Trust (Sept. 25), Daily Post (Sept. 25), and Religion News Service (Sept. 23). The pastor’s name, the son, the church secretary or church worker, the Gana-Ropp count, the curfew, the Sept. 22 incidents, the later Barkin Ladi count, the Kassa bodies, the Mangu herder, the assembly call, the Kaduna claim, and the interfaith partnerships stay with the outlets named in the brief. The Morning Star live page returned a Cloudflare challenge and was read from a Sept. 25 Wayback snapshot. Save Page Now returned 520 for International Christian Concern and ThisDay. No photo. Follows the Sept. 20 Barkin Ladi brief, which left the pastor unnamed.