Pastor beheaded after refusing to deny Christ

A pastor in Nigeria who was shown earlier this month praising God in a ransom video has been killed by Boko Haram.

The militants executed Rev. Lawan Andimi after he was declared missing on Jan. 3, 2020, following a raid in Michika carried out by the extremist group. In a video posted online, the pastor was seen being forced by Boko Haram members into his vehicle.

Andimi was the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s chapter in the Michika Local Government area of Adamawa State, The Christian Post reports.

The pastor’s execution has since been condemned by international human rights activists.

Just days after his capture, Andimi was shown in a ransom video released by his captors. In the video, the pastor asks fellow leaders in the Christian community and state government officials to help him be released.

But Andimi’s temperance in the video was far from fearful.

“All conditions that one finds himself is in the hand of God,” he says in the video.

“By the grace of God, I will be together with my wife and my children and all my colleagues … If the opportunity has not been granted, maybe it is the will of God.”

Local sources shared the news of Andimi’s execution with American ministry partners on Mon., Jan. 20, 2020.

Andimi’s family also received the news on Monday through the CAN office in Adamawa state.

Pastor Denis Bagauri of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria was also killed this week by gunmen in his home. Bagauri was a well-known political advocate for Christians in the area.