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People group profile · PG013842

The Igala of Nigeria

The Igala of Nigeria, numbering about 1,870,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic people of the Niger-Benue confluence in central Nigeria whose identity is rooted in the historic Igala Kingdom centered at Idah and longstanding cultural and political ties across the Middle Belt.

They are an indigenous people in the Yoruba people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Igala.

Pray for the IgalaPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Igala people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Igala

Fast facts

Country
Nigeria
Population
1,870,000
Affinity group
Sub-Saharan African Peoples
People cluster
Yoruba
Primary language
Igala (igl)
Primary religion
Protestantism
Strategic Progress Index
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
2% or Greater but Less than 5%
GSEC
2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
Lostness priority
Marginally Reached People Group
Region
Western Africa, Africa

Where they live

Gospel status

The Igala are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Igala

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Protestantism · Christianity

78% adherents

Primary language

Igala · Atlantic-Congo family

100% speak Igala

Gospel resources in Igala

  • Bible available, published 2019
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Igala

  1. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  2. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  3. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  4. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.

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