A clergyman man has been killed alongside his wife in Taraba state by Suspected militiamen.
Reverend Emmanuel Saba Bileya was killed alongside his wife Juliana. The couple were apparently caught up in the ongoing ethnic violence between Tiv and Jukun militiamen.
His death was announced on Facebook by fellow men of God in Nigeria and abroad who knew the pastor personally.
According to the information retrieved from his relatives and friends, the pastor was murdered in Mararraba community, Donga local government area of Taraba state.
A eulogy given by family members on Facebook read;
My dear Brother and friend forever, Emmanuel Bileya, who along with his wife, Juliana, were martyred for their faith in Jesus, yesterday in Taraba state, Nigeria, leaving behind eight children. Lord have mercy. Our hearts break.
My dear Brother Emmanuel and his wonderful wife have gone home. This world was never his true home. Emmanuel stayed at our house a few times while he attended school. We would talk long about what it meant to follow Jesus while living on one of the major fault lines of conflict in this world.
Martyrdom was always on his radar as a present possibility and he thought differently about this life because his life was on the line because he loved Jesus and was a leader.
Emmanuel had a great peace and great gifts that he humbly used for God’s glory. He understood like few people that I have met that his life was not his own. I will miss him and I pray the Lord’s mercy on his eight surviving children. I also pray God’s mercy on those who killed him and his wife. In the words of the Lord, “Abba, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”
I will miss him and I pray the Lord’s mercy on his eight surviving children. I also pray God’s mercy on those who killed him and his wife. In the words of the Lord, “Abba, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”
