Kidnapped Nigerian church leader executed only 18 days after abduction

On Twitter, Nigerian journalist Ahmed Salkida reported that Rev. Lawan was beheaded on Monday afternoon, January 20. Salkida noted that he had obtained a video of the execution and had informed authorities.

To break some news items can traumatize. I'm battling with one of such. Reverend Andimi, abducted by #BokoHaram was executed yesterday. Rev. Andimi was a church leader, a father to his children and the community he served. My condolences go to his family. pic.twitter.com/1G9n3RLQjk

— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) January 21, 2020

The Boko Haram splinter group reportedly responsible, Islamic State Western Africa Province (ISWAP), has not yet confirmed the murder. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the killing, calling it “cruel, inhuman and deliberately provocative.”

‘Thank God for everything’

On January 3, 2020, Rev. Lawan was abducted in an attack on the major town of Michika near the Cameroon border. Days after his kidnapping, his kidnappers released a six-minute proof-of-life video (a screenshot of which is at the top of this article) in which the pastor called on church authorities to secure his release. He also praised God, telling his family and colleagues, “don’t cry, don’t worry, but thank God for everything.”

“I have never been discouraged because everything is in the hands of God,” he said in the video. “By the grace of God, I will be together with my wife, children and colleagues and if the opportunity has not been granted, then maybe it is the will of God.”

In recent months, both ISWAP and Boko Haram insurgents have notched up kidnappings and attacks. Rev. Lewan’s kidnapping and death comes only a couple weeks after Boko Haram attacked a Christian village in Borno State near Chibok on Christmas eve, killing seven believers and taking a teenage girl—the second attack on the village in 2019.

Days before that attack, Boko Haram splinter group ISWAP executed 11 Nigerian Christians over Christmas 2019 and released a video on December 28 reminiscent of the 2015 video of the beheadings of 21 Christians on the Libyan coast. In both videos, the martyrs wore orange jumpsuits, their killers in black.

“This message is to the Christians in the world,” ISWAP said in the 56-second propaganda video.

While reacting to the killings, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the apparent killings and urged Nigerians not to let themselves be divided along religious lines.

“We should, under no circumstance, let the terrorists divide us by turning Christians against Muslims because these barbaric killers don’t represent Islam and millions of other law-abiding Muslims around the world,” he said in a statement.

CAN spokesperson Bayo Oladeji spoke to the International Center for Investigative Reporting about Rev. Lawan’s violent death: “It is pathetic and painful to learn that such a gentleman could be killed like a ram,” Oladeji said, adding that CAN would release an official statement this week.