It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) expresses its profound condolences and unwavering solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Northeast Nigeria Annual Conference following the horrific violence that occurred between May 23 and 24, 2025, in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria.
We have received with great pain the reports of brutal attacks on the communities of Munga Lelau, Magami, Munga Dosso, and Bandawa—violence that has led to the killing of over thirty people, including twenty-four members of The United Methodist Church. The destruction of more than 62 homes and the displacement of over 5,000 individuals from their communities is deeply distressing and unacceptable.
Among the most affected congregations are the United Methodist Church Munga Lelau, United Methodist Church Magami, United Church No.1 Munga Dosso, United Methodist Church Bunkabu, United Methodist Church Bunkachi, and United Methodist Church Ngurore Jabu. We also extend our condolences to the Baptist Church community, which has suffered alongside our United Methodist family in this crisis.
I, Bishop Samuel J. Quire, Jr., the Resident Bishop Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and President College of Bishops, West Africa Central Conference, extend my heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims, the leadership of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria, and the people of the affected communities. We join you in mourning and prayer for healing, peace, and restoration.
We are encouraged to know that the United Methodist Church in Nigeria has mobilized a relief response through its first responders, including the District Superintendents of Munga Lelau, Karim, and Munga Dosso Districts.
We commend the efforts of Rev. Dr. Danladi Balutu, Rev. Monday Musa Marwa, and Rev. Geoffrey Jarama for their frontline ministry and support to the suffering.
As a sister Conference, we stand ready to provide prayerful and practical support where possible.
We call upon the government of Nigeria, both state and federal, to act swiftly and decisively in restoring peace, protecting lives, and ensuring justice for the victims.
We also call upon all stakeholders in this conflict to seek peaceful dialogue and reconciliation. Violence is never the solution; only peace, understanding, and justice can lead us forward.
Let us all—across Africa and the global United Methodist connection, continue to lift up the people of Karim Lamido and the Northeast Nigeria Annual Conference in our prayers. May God’s comfort, justice, and peace prevail.