The Ukpe-Bayobiri of Nigeria

The Ukpe-Bayobiri of Nigeria, numbering approximately 30,000 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: 30,000
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

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
readJohn 11:25

Pray for the many who have never heard about or understood the importance of what Jesus did for them, asking God to make a way for them to hear that the perfect Son of Man suffered, died, and rose again so that they might be saved.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
readJohn 8:12

Pray that many will come to know Jesus, the light of the world, and have the light of life instead of walking in darkness.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
readDeuteronomy 6:5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and might, as they strive to live lives that honor and glorify Him.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
read3 John 1:2

Ask God to grant protection and good health — both physical and spiritual — to those He sends cross-culturally to share 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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