The Miya of Nigeria

The Miya of Nigeria, numbering approximately 71,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a small Chadic-speaking ethnic group of northeastern Nigeria, found mainly in Bauchi State and surrounding areas of the Nigerian savanna belt. They mostly adhere to Animism and Miya is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Miya

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Nigeria
People Cluster: Chadic
Primary Language(s): Miya (mkf)
Primary Religion(s): Animism
Population: 71,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG014000
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Miya of Nigeria

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Animism
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

96%
%
Animism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Miya
Language Family: Afro-Asiatic

96%
%
Vune mi Speakers

Media Resources in Miya:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Miya:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Miya bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Miya are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Miya:
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

Pray specifically for the Miya of Nigeria

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
readJohn 3:18

Pray for those who are living under the burden of their sin to believe in Jesus, the only Son of God, and receive freedom.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
readJohn 3:16

Pray that the lost will seek God and learn that they have a heavenly Father who loves them and wants them to live eternally with Him.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
readJames 4:1

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will turn from worldly passions and live in unity with one another.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
readJohn 1:9-10

Pray for those God might send to share the gospel here. Ask that they will grow closer to Jesus and be compelled to share His good news with people who don't know it.

Miya Across Countries (ROP3 - 106683) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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