A pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Obi town, in Nigeria’s central State of Nasarawa, was killed by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen on 30 June.
Rev. Joseph Kurah, accompanied by three other people, went to his farm at about 7pm to cut down trees for roofing wood.
But as they arrived at the farm, two armed men suddenly appeared from behind them, local sources told journalist.
The attackers chased them and quickly surrounded Rev. Kurah, while his three companions managed to flee in different directions without harm. The lifeless and severely mutilated body of Rev. Kurah was later recovered from the scene.
Local sources told journalist that the attackers, who spoke Fulani, were dressed as Fulani herdsmen, with their faces uncovered, showing tribal marks on their cheeks.
Some members of the local church in Obi told journalist that there was an earlier argument with a Muslim farmer in the community over the ownership of the farm.
Many among the Christian community suspect the Fulani-herdsmen gang of being hired by the local Muslim to carry out the killing.
A man identifying himself as the nephew of the murdered pastor gave chilling details in a series of Twitter posts with graphic photos:
“They attacked him on his farm, cut off his arms and legs; then they chopped his head with a machete. I received a call on Thursday evening that my uncle, a pastor with ECWA, was killed by Fulani herdsmen.”
He also called on the authorities to find the killers of his uncle, Rev. Joseph Kurah:
