The Ukpe-Bayobiri of Nigeria

The Ukpe-Bayobiri of Nigeria, numbering approximately 29,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Bendi-speaking community of Nigeria's Obudu geo-cultural area whose ancestors are believed to have migrated from the east, reaching their present territory by the eighteenth century alongside neighboring Bete-Bendi, Bumaji, and Utugwang communities. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Ukpe-Bayobiri is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Ukpe-Bayobiri

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Nigeria
People Cluster: Benue
Primary Language(s): Ukpe-Bayobiri (ukp)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 29,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG014144
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Ukpe-Bayobiri 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: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

92%
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Ukpe-Bayobiri
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Bukpe Speakers

Media Resources in Ukpe-Bayobiri:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Ukpe-Bayobiri:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Ukpe-Bayobiri bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Ukpe-Bayobiri are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Next steps for the Ukpe-Bayobiri:
Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Ukpe-Bayobiri of Nigeria

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
readRevelation 3:20

Pray that those who have not opened their hearts to Jesus will hear His knock and invite Him in as their Savior and Lord.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise).
readEphesians 6:1-2

Pray that God will bring young men and women to faith in Jesus and that the fruit of their faith will be a powerful testimony as they honor their parents.

Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
readActs 2:47

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, God will use their faith and their church community as a testimony to the watching world and grow His Church.

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
readActs 17:32

Ask God to give those He sends to cross cultures wisdom and discernment as they engage in spiritual conversations with those who are curious about the gospel.

Ukpe-Bayobiri Across Countries (ROP3 - 110375) 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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