A religious freedom advocate and Christian journalist in Nigeria was being held without charges and incommunicado after soldiers arrested him at a military hospital, where relatives attacked by Fulani gunmen were receiving treatment, sources said.
Lawrence Zongo, a journalist with Truth Nigeria and a volunteer with Amnesty International, was arrested on Monday (Oct. 5) at a health facility of the Nigerian Army, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment (Rukuba Barracks), in Jos, where a cousin had earlier succumbed to injuries from the Fulani attack, according to Truth Nigeria.
“One of the victims – a first cousin – had died by the time Zongo arrived late Monday morning,” Truth Nigeria reported. “Sources say while he was still processing the loss, soldiers arrested him and held him incommunicado. His only 'offense,' sources allege, was being a rights activist who visited the barracks wearing Ray-Ban glasses.”
Military authorities were denying Zongo, a member of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), access to lawyers and family, reported the outlet, operated by U.S.-based aid agency Equipping The Persecuted.
“He had gone to the hospital at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment (Rukuba Barracks), HQ of 3 Division, to assist his cousins attacked Sunday night in Miango, Bassa LGA,” Truth Nigeria stated.
The Christians receiving treatment at the military hospital were attacked in their homes by Fulani gunmen on Sunday (Oct. 4), and military personnel who went to the scene of the incident had taken them to their hospital. Zongo had gone to the hospital to assist the wounded when soldiers arrested him.
Military personnel had arrested Zongo a few years ago for reporting cases of rights violations, he previously told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. During his first arrest, he was beaten and suffered other mistreatment, and he was released only after expressions of public outrage over his detention, he said.
“We hope Lawrence Zongo gets released immediately,” said Judd Saul, Founder of Truth Nigeria. “I wish that the military would spend these resources apprehending Fulani ethnic militia that are committing the real crimes.”
The Nigerian Army has not confirmed the detention or responded to media inquiries about it, according to Premium Times. The Nigerian newspaper reported that Zongo has documented insecurity and human rights abused in Plateau state for years.
Other Christians have questioned the rationale behind his arrest and called for Zongo’s release, such as Grace Gye stating on Facebook, “Free Lawrence Zongo. He is not a criminal. He is a rights activist with a heart of gold, committed to standing for justice and the voiceless.”
More Christians were killed in Nigeria than in any other country from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025, according to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List. Of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for their faith during that period, 3,490 – 72 percent – were Nigerians, an increase from 3,100 the prior year. Nigeria ranked No. 7 on the WWL list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
