The Goemai of Nigeria

The Goemai of Nigeria, numbering approximately 364,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an indigenous people of the Great Muri Plains between the Jos Plateau and Benue River, centered in Shendam and Qua'an Pan and formerly known as Ankwe. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Goemai is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Nigeria
People Cluster: Chadic
Primary Language(s): Goemai (ank)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 364,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG013804
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Goemai 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

36%
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Goemai
Language Family: Afro-Asiatic

58%
%
Goemai Speakers

Media Resources in Goemai:

Films:
Title Link
JESUS View Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Goemai:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Goemai bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Goemai 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 Goemai:
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 Goemai of Nigeria

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!
readPsalm 22:26

Pray that the lost will feel a deep hunger for God, be drawn to Him in their affliction, and find lasting satisfaction and salvation in Him alone.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
readRomans 3:23

Pray that the gospel will advance and many will acknowledge that all have sinned, fall short of God's glory, and need a Savior to reconcile them to God.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
readPsalm 133:1

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will be unified and love one another as God loves them.

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.

Goemai Across Countries (ROP3 - 103412) 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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