The Egbira of Nigeria

The Egbira of Nigeria, numbering approximately 2,395,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an agrarian Nupoid people of Kogi State who trace their descent to the Kwararafa confederation at Wukari, migrating out around 1680 AD after a chieftaincy dispute, with deeper roots tied to Central Nigeria's ancient Nok Iron Age culture. They mostly adhere to Ethnoreligion and Ebira is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Nigeria
People Cluster: Benue
Primary Language(s): Ebira (igb)
Primary Religion(s): Ethnoreligion
Population: 2,395,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG013314
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Pray for the Egbira 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: Ethnoreligion
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

—
%
Ethnoreligion Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Ebira
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Ebira Speakers

Media Resources in Ebira:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Ebira:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
1981 Bible Society of Nigeria✓

1 entry

Or check out the Ebira bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Egbira 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 Egbira:
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 Egbira of Nigeria

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.
readIsaiah 48:11

Pray that those who have been living for their own glory will turn to the One who is worthy of all praise and find their true identity in Him.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
readPsalm 19:1-2

Pray that the lost will see the glory of God revealed in the heavens, that they will hear the good news, and that their hearts will be softened to respond to God’s call, turning to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
readHebrews 10:25

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will not neglect meeting together but encourage one another as they see the Day approaching.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns”
readIsaiah 52:7

Pray that God will provide open doors for believers who cross cultures to share the good news of salvation with those who need it. Pray that He will give them joy as they see Him move.

Igbirra Across Countries (ROP3 - 103962) 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.

Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

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