British missionary's death mourned by hundreds in Nigeria

Residents of an isolated Nigerian village are mourning the death of a British missionary who died after being kidnapped by vigilantes.

Hundreds of villagers from Enokhora, an impoverished community in the southern Delta region, dressed in black to parade in honour of Ian Squire, 57, according to local media.

Ian Squire, 56, was 'tragically killed', a Foreign Office spokesman said. Linkedin

Three other missionaries were also kidnapped but returned alive and are currently in talks with Foreign Office officials in London after their capture. 

But Squire, an optician in Surrey, is thought to have died after being unable to access medication for an asthma condition, according to Nigerian press.

The four ran an eye clinic and other medical facilities in the remote area of southern Nigeria for a decade before their kidnap on October 13.

'These people have come all the way from the UK to help us and because of the kidnapping by the Karowei, this led to the death of Doctor Ian,' one community leader said, according to Nigerian media.

'We want to the world to see that we are not happy with the activities of this gang, and to appeal to the federal government to make sure that the Karowei should be brought to book. The loss of Doctor Ian has led to the closure of this clinic.'

Another local, Comrade Michael Ogobiri, said the missionaries had refused to have security guards in spite of previous threats.

'We had set up a local vigilante for them before, but they rejected it because they said they believed in God and they're missionaries,' Mr Ogobiri told the Nigerian Tribune. 'We never believed such could happen. They've been here since 2007.'

Squire was kidnapped alongside former Cambridgeshire GP David Donovan and his wife Shirley, both 57, and Alanna Carson, of Fife.

They have so far refused to comment on their ordeal.

News
Christian missionary father and daughter killed in plane crash while delivering aid to Jamaica
Christian missionary father and daughter killed in plane crash while delivering aid to Jamaica

A Christian missionary father and his daughter have died after their plane crashed shortly after take off in Florida on Monday. 

Iraq: Parliamentary seats reserved for Christians 'snatched' by Shia militants
Iraq: Parliamentary seats reserved for Christians 'snatched' by Shia militants

A Shia militant group is reportedly masquerading as the voice of the Chaldean Catholic community.

Treasures of Christianity from the African continent
Treasures of Christianity from the African continent

Here are three remarkable figures whose faith, intellect and courage helped shape Christianity as we know it today.

The cross is at the heart of everything, says NT Wright
The cross is at the heart of everything, says NT Wright

Not unlike 2,000 years ago when the Apostle Paul was divinely inspired to pen his letter to the church in Philippi, Tom “N.T.” Wright wants to remind everyone that the Gospel is still unchained.