Prominent Nigerian broadcaster and Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni has issued a powerful condemnation of the targeted killing of Venerable Ademola Achi, a respected Anglican priest in Plateau State, describing the attack as a brazen act of faith-based persecution that demands immediate national reckoning. In a viral social media post and on-air segment aired on Wednesday morning, Oseni declared: “Venerable Achi was killed for his faith. This is not just another statistic; it is a clarion call to our leaders that religious intolerance is eroding the soul of our nation.”
The 52-year-old cleric, who served as Archdeacon of Mangu in the Diocese of Jos, was brutally murdered on Tuesday evening, November 25, 2025, in his residence in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. Eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations by local security forces reveal that armed assailants, suspected to be Fulani militants, stormed the compound around 8:30 p.m., shooting Venerable Achi multiple times at close range before fleeing into the night. His wife and two children, who were present during the attack, escaped with minor injuries after hiding in an adjoining room. The assailants reportedly chanted anti-Christian slogans during the raid, underscoring the apparent religious motivation behind the violence.
Venerable Achi, ordained in 2001 and a tireless advocate for interfaith dialogue and community peacebuilding, had been vocal in recent months about the escalating threats facing Christian communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt. In a sermon just two weeks prior, he warned of "a shadow of intolerance creeping over our lands," urging congregants to pray for protection while emphasizing non-violent resistance. His death marks the third high-profile killing of a Christian leader in Plateau State this year, following the assassinations of Reverend Silas Ali in July and Sister Maryam Ibrahim in September—incidents that have fueled widespread outrage and fears of a coordinated campaign against religious minorities.
Oseni's statement, shared across his X (formerly Twitter) platform with over 1.2 million followers, has amassed more than 500,000 engagements within hours, igniting a national conversation on religious freedom. "When a man of God like Venerable Achi is gunned down in cold blood simply because he preaches love and peace in the name of Christ, we must ask: What kind of Nigeria are we building?" Oseni wrote. "This is not banditry; this is jihadism disguised. Our government must act decisively—deploy intelligence resources, prosecute perpetrators, and protect our places of worship—or risk a full-blown religious war."
On Arise TV's flagship morning show The Morning Show, Oseni expanded on his remarks during a live panel discussion, linking Venerable Achi's murder to a broader pattern of impunity. "From the Christmas Eve attacks in 2023 that claimed over 200 lives to the school abductions and church burnings, the data is damning: Over 2,000 Christians killed in faith-related violence in 2025 alone, per reports from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety)," he noted, citing statistics that have drawn international scrutiny. Oseni called for the establishment of a dedicated National Religious Tolerance Commission and urged President Bola Tinubu to convene an emergency summit with faith leaders from all denominations.
The Anglican Diocese of Jos, in a statement released by Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, described Venerable Achi as "a shepherd who laid down his life for his flock," vowing to pursue justice through legal channels while organizing a statewide prayer rally. "Ademola's blood cries out for equity," the bishop said. "He was not just a priest; he was a bridge-builder in a fractured society." Tributes have poured in from across Nigeria's religious spectrum, including from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which has declared November 30 a national day of mourning and solidarity.
Human rights organizations echoed Oseni's urgency. Amnesty International Nigeria's Director, Osai Ojigho, stated: "Rufai Oseni's voice amplifies what we've been screaming: Systemic failure to address religious violence is complicity. Venerable Achi's death is a stain on our democracy." Meanwhile, global watchdogs like Open Doors USA, which ranks Nigeria ninth on its World Watch List for Christian persecution, renewed calls for targeted sanctions against enablers of such atrocities.
Oseni, 41, a University of Lagos alumnus and award-winning journalist known for his incisive commentary on governance and social justice, has positioned himself as a fierce defender of press freedom and minority rights. His remarks come amid his ongoing advocacy series on Arise TV, "Faith Under Fire," which has spotlighted similar cases and garnered accolades from the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
As investigations continue, with Plateau State Police Commissioner Okon Effiong confirming the arrest of two suspects, the nation braces for potential reprisals in an already volatile region. Oseni's impassioned plea resonates as a turning point: "Venerable Achi's legacy is not in his death, but in the peace he championed. Let us honor him by choosing justice over vengeance, unity over division."
"Ven. Edwin Achi, Anglican Vicar of the Kaduna Diocese, was k!ll£d by kidn@ppers because of his Christian faith. Earlier this morning, someone revealed to me that a ransom had been paid for his release, only for the kidn@ppers to send a picture of his corpse. Now, how do they… https://t.co/HoB6sOJwn0 pic.twitter.com/I7V941ikWb
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) November 27, 2025
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