Pastor Gabriel Joseph Dipak, a Christ Apostolic Church minister, has revealed the brutal murder of Pastor Emmanuel Hills during an abduction by Fulani bandits on Friday, August 28, 2026, along the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos Road in Plateau State. The incident occurred as both men were traveling from Jos to Bokkos after a church programme, with Hills, a Ghanaian-Nigerian cleric and founder of The Wonderful Grace of God Evangelical Ministry, being killed after attempting to escape his captors. Dipak, who was later released after ransom negotiations, recounted the harrowing ordeal in a video interview with conflict journalist Masara Kim Usman.
The abduction took place around 9 pm when their vehicle encountered a roadblock set up by heavily armed militants. Flashlights illuminated the dark road, signaling the presence of non-military personnel. As the driver tried to maneuver past the barricade, four armed men emerged from the bush shouting “Allahu Akbar,” immediately identifying themselves as Fulani militants. They forced the driver to stop, pointed guns and machetes at the passengers, and ordered everyone to lie on the ground before robbing them.
Pastor Hills and Dipak were singled out because they were identified as men of God. While other passengers, including Hills’ wife, were robbed and allowed to leave, the two pastors were taken captive. During the forced march toward the hills, Hills attempted to flee, but the bandits pursued him. Upon catching him, they stabbed him multiple times and then slaughtered him in the same manner used for goats. Dipak described how the killers boasted and joked about Hills’ struggle before he died within two minutes.
Dipak was taken to a hidden camp in the hills, where his hands were tied. He was told the bandits had been monitoring his movements from Jos and had received orders to kill him. When asked about his tribe, Dipak replied he was not Mwaghavul or Berom, which the kidnappers said spared his life, as they would have executed him immediately if he belonged to those ethnic groups. He was released the following evening after his family arranged the ransom payment through phone calls initiated by the abductors.
This tragic incident highlights the ongoing insecurity in Plateau State, particularly along vulnerable routes like the Barkin Ladi-Bokkos Road. It also underscores the dangers faced by religious leaders and ordinary travelers in areas affected by armed banditry. The killing of Pastor Hills adds to the growing list of violent attacks targeting civilians, especially those perceived as belonging to minority ethnic groups or opposing Fulani interests. Authorities are under increasing pressure to restore peace and ensure safe passage for all residents and visitors across the region.
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