7x7 News

Extremists upset by Christian evangelism on a university campus in Nigeria have killed one student and threatened the lives of several others.

Sunday Nache Achi was found strangled near the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi city, Bauchi state, where he was studying architecture. Sunday, who was president of the campus ministry of the Evangelical Church of West Africa, was dragged from his room by masked men shortly after he arrived back from a Bible study.

Tensions between Christians and Muslims had been rising since a group of three evangelical students had toured student halls on campus to discuss the Gospel with Muslims. During the visits, tracts were distributed which offered ‘a comparative analysis of Islam vis-à-vis Christianity and the teachings of Jesus Christ’, according to Christian students.

According to one of the three evangelicals, extremists made several attempts to kill the trio after their visits. Furthermore, university authorities accused the three of blaspheming Mohammed and a student disciplinary committee recommended that the three be expelled.

Sunday’s roommate Idakwo Ako Paul was soon in no doubt that his friend’s life was also in danger. At 8pm on December 8, their room was invaded by ‘three Muslim students dressed in Islamic jihad style’ who demanded to know where Sunday was. Idakwo did not know so they left. But a few hours later, when Sunday had returned from his Bible group, the same men with additional back-up burst into their room and dragged Sunday out. Idakwo was locked in and his cries for help ignored. The following morning, Sunday’s body was discovered by a mosque near the home of the university’s vice chancellor.

The offices of the Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students were destroyed in an arson attack the same night Sunday was abducted.

Compass reports that two evangelical students who distributed the same tract at Bauchi Federal Polytechnic have also been expelled from their college.

Bauchi state governor Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu has ordered a full investigation into Sunday’s murder. No arrests had been made at the time of writing. Sunday’s father Dr Samuel Achi has called on the government to find a solution to end inter-religious conflict in Nigeria.

• Pray for Sunday’s family and friends, that they would truly know God’s ‘peace that transcends all understanding’.
• Pray for relations between Christian and Muslim students on higher education campuses across Nigeria: tensions have flared where extremist elements have whipped up anti-Christian fervour. Pray that the moderate majority of Muslims would stand up for religious tolerance and that Christians would resist the temptation to retaliate.

Last changed: Aug 08 2007 at 11:29 PM

Back to top