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
Prosecution numbers suggest 'uncertainty' around legality of assisted suicide
Prosecution numbers suggest 'uncertainty' around legality of assisted suicide

CPS guidelines introduced by Keir Starmer may mean an effective blind eye is being turned to some assisted suicides.

YouVersion's Bible app sees record engagement over Easter
YouVersion's Bible app sees record engagement over Easter

YouVersion, the company behind the world’s most popular Bible app, has said that this Easter saw its highest level of engagement with scripture ever recorded.

CoE launches worship initiative to engage more children with faith
CoE launches worship initiative to engage more children with faith

The Church of England hopes to double the number of young disciples by 2030.

MPs decry abortion up to birth plans
MPs decry abortion up to birth plans

The Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and the Father of the House have both expressed their strong concern about the abortion up to birth clause in the Crime and Policing Bill, which is set to become law.