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People group profile · PG014088

The Reshe of Nigeria

The Reshe of Nigeria, numbering about 112,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a riverine people of Nigeria's Kainji Lake area formed through the amalgamation of several distinct groups adapting to river life, ruled from the historic capital of Birnin Yauri whose Muslim emirate dates to the late 1600s.

They are an indigenous people in the Benue people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Islam, and they primarily speak Reshe.

Pray for the ReshePrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Reshe people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2025). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Reshe

Fast facts

Country
Nigeria
Population
112,000
Affinity group
Sub-Saharan African Peoples
People cluster
Benue
Primary language
Reshe (res)
Primary religion
Folk Islam
Strategic Progress Index ?
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Pioneer Unreached People Group
Region
Western Africa, Africa

Where they live

Gospel status

The Reshe are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

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

Next steps for the Reshe

  • Continue prayer and fasting for this group
  • Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
  • Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Primary religion

Folk Islam · Islam

76% adherents

Primary language

Reshe · Atlantic-Congo family

100% speak Reshe

Gospel resources in Reshe

  • Bible available, published 2009
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

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

Pray for the Reshe

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

Download a prayer guide

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