Deadly Split

A violent clash stemming from a religious schism within the Methodist Church left three people dead, including two children, and at least 10 others injured this week in Nigeria’s northeastern Taraba State, as tensions between the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the breakaway Global Methodist Church (GMC) escalated, the Associated Press reported.

The confrontation reportedly began Sunday when GMC members gathered at a UMC church in violation of a government-imposed closure order. During the violence, 27-year-old UMC member Elisha Masoyi was shot and killed, while two children, aged two and four, died when homes were set ablaze.

Eleven houses were destroyed, displacing hundreds of families, primarily women and children.

The division within the Methodist community began in 2022 when the GMC broke away from the UMC over disagreements on LGBTQ policies. Former UMC Bishop John Wesley Yohanna joined the GMC – allegedly taking UMC property and funds – further fueling the conflict, according to United Methodist News, the official agency of the UMC.

The UMC has since filed a lawsuit to reclaim assets, while the GMC has faced accusations of harassment and incitement of violence.

UMC leaders, including Bishop-elect Ande Emmanuel, condemned the violence, calling it a tragedy among “brothers and sisters who were once part of the same Methodist family.”

The UMC Council of Bishops echoed these sentiments, urging peace and offering condolences to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, the GMC released a statement calling for calm and emphasizing the need for sustainable peace.