Killings of Christians continue in Nigeria

Local community leaders say that recent attacks follow tactics employed by the armed bandits responsible for the Christmas massacres in Nigeria. Religion is a factor in a conflict that also has ethnic and economic roots.

This month, dozens of Christians have been killed in towns and villages across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, most recently around Easter, according to information sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) by local Catholic leaders.

At least 39 people were killed in several attacks on villages in Plateau State. The attacks began on April 1st, Easter Monday, and continued over the next two weeks.

According to Father Andrew Dewan, director of communications for the Pankshin Diocese, “there were violent attacks on Easter Monday. Ten people were killed, and a pregnant woman had her stomach slit open. The baby was not spared.”

The attackers, who were ethnic Fulani herdsmen and mostly follow Islam, returned several days later, initiating another series of raids on April 12th, which resulted in 29 more deaths. “The attacks continued until April 14th. In total, five villages and districts were attacked; and 29 people were killed, including a Protestant minister, and two were injured. A church in Kopnanle was also burned down.”

This is the same region where more than 300 Christians were massacred around Christmas, and Father Andrew believes that “there is a pattern to these attacks, and they’re an ongoing reality of living in the region. They might be linked to the attacks over Christmas.” Another factor could be revenge, says Father Andrew, citing the killing of two Fulani youths by unknown criminals. “It’s a cycle of violence. Locals are looking for ways to defend themselves against the barrage of violence,” the priest told ACN.

After the Christmas massacres, the government promised to increase security to protect farmers in the Middle Belt, who are mostly Christian, but it has not followed through, says Father Andrew. “The security response of the government is inadequate. In times of crisis, communities don’t have confidence in their government to protect them. They take shelter in churches, which aren’t used to dealing with so many IDPs. Imagine cooking for thousands of people per month; we haven’t planned or stocked up for these emergencies, so we’re often caught unprepared.”

Following the Christmas massacre, 16 camps for internaly dsiplaced persons (IDPs) were set up in Bokkos, mostly by the Church, to provide shelter for those affected by the attacks. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), fueled by insurgency in the northeast  and extremist Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt.

In 2024, hundreds dead in Benue State

Also badly hit by the violence is Benue State. Detailed figures sent to ACN by Father Remigius Ihyula, a local project partner show that around Easter, dozens of Christians were murdered in Fulani raids. Attacks between March 28th and April 2nd left at least 38 dead, and possibly many more, with several people injured and raped.

According to Father Ihyula’s information, 67 attacks have occurred since the beginning of 2024, resulting in 239 confirmed dead, 60 injured, and 65 kidnapped. In 2023, more than 500 people were killed.

Father Remigius emphasizes the suffering of the female victims: “We’ve heard about women and young girls being raped by terrorists, but we can’t share their names for privacy reasons. We’ve connected them with support for trauma, but we’re figuring out how to report these incidents without putting them at risk of pressure or discrimination.”

Tension between settled farmers and nomadic herders is an age-old problem in this part of Nigeria. Climate change has driven the Fulanis from their traditional grazing grounds, leading to clashes over land. Ethnic and religious differences aggravate the situation, and there is evidence of Fulanis being radicalized and used to expel Christians from the area. They also have easy access to automatic weapons.

Aid to the Church in Need supports the Diocese of Makurdi in Nigeria, providing aid to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Guma and Daudu Camp, two of 14 camps in Benue State. Besides pastoral care, the local Church provides trauma counseling, scholarships, food, and other forms of humanitarian aid.

—Filipe d’Avillez