As Premier reported yesterday, Islamic militants in Nigeria have killed a Christian pastor who had pleaded for his life in a video just days earlier.
The political leaders of the country have now acknowledged his death and ensured the culprits will "pay a heavy price".
Reverend Lawan Andimi was abducted earlier this month when Boko Haram militants attacked Michika, where he was the chairman of a local branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria, a church network.
He was killed on Monday.
Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria, wrote on social media on Tuesday: "The terrorist killing of Lawan Andimi...is cruel, inhuman and deliberately provocative. My deepest condolences to his family, the Christian community across Nigeria, and the Government and people of Adamawa."
He added: "I am greatly saddened by the fact that the terrorists went on to kill him even while giving signals of a willingness to set him free by releasing him to third parties. This barbarism is condemnable. We will ensure that these terrorists pay a heavy price for their evil actions."
Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, also from the ACN party, said: "Words fail me as I share my heartfelt sympathy with the family of Rev. Lawal Andimi. The senseless killing of the bishop despite ongoing efforts to secure his freedom further reiterates the callous and irrational nature of the Boko Haram terrorists.
Mr Andimi is the latest Christian to be killed by Boko Haram or a breakaway faction that has ties to the Islamic State group.
On Friday, the Islamic State's West Africa Province, known as ISWAP, released a video which showed a hooded child with pistol in hand killing a Christian man.
On Christmas Day, ISWAP killed nine Christians along with two other captives.
Boko Haram and ISWAP want to enforce strict Islamic law in Nigeria and have reportedly forced some captives to convert to Islam under threat of death.
Amnesty International have condemned the murder and the follow-up attack on his hometown in the Chibok local government area of Borno state.
