Tragic Raid in Nigeria: 28 Christians Killed in Plateau State Attack
In a devastating incident that highlights the ongoing religious violence in Nigeria, Fulani herdsmen launched an attack on Kawel village in Plateau state, resulting in the deaths of 28 Christians. The attack, which occurred early Monday morning, claimed the life of a local pastor and multiple community members.
The assault began around 2 a.m. in Bokkos County, as described by resident Jesse Peter Dukut. “We were inside our houses when the Fulani herdsmen invaded our village,” Dukut recounted. “If anyone came out of their houses, they were shot at sight. And a sound from any of the houses in the village attracts shooting from the terrorists.”
Efforts to seek help were hindered as phone and telecom services were cut, leaving residents unable to alert security agencies. Dukut reported that the attackers communicated in Fulani and Hausa languages, and some seemed to have specific targets within the Christian community. “We heard them even mentioning the names of some of our Christian leaders and directing some of them to hunt them down in their homes,” he told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
Among the victims was the Rev. Markus Nyam, a pastor at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), who was killed alongside members of his congregation. Godswill Nuhu, another resident, confirmed Rev. Nyam’s death. Church leaders in Bokkos have since released a statement expressing their sorrow over the tragedy.
“We received with deep sadness the news of the death of Rev. Markus Nyam, who was among those who lost their lives in the recent attack in Bokkos,” they stated. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the entire community during this difficult time. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen!”
This attack is part of a larger trend of violence against Christians in Nigeria, where more Christians have been killed than in any other country from October 2024 to September 2025. The Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List reported that 3,490 of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for their faith during that period were Nigerians. Nigeria is ranked No. 7 on their list of the 50 countries where it is most challenging to be a Christian.
According to a 2020 report from the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG), some Fulani adhere to radical Islamist ideology, targeting Christians in a manner similar to Boko Haram and ISWAP. The APPG report highlights the Fulani’s intent to attack Christians and symbols of Christian identity.
Nigerian Christian leaders have suggested that the herdsmen attacks are motivated by a desire to take over land and impose Islam, exacerbated by environmental challenges such as desertification. In Nigeria’s North-Central zone, where Christians are more populous, extremist Fulani militias frequently target farming communities.
The violence extends beyond the Middle Belt, reaching southern states where new jihadist groups, like Lakurawa, emerge. Lakurawa is connected with Al-Qaeda’s Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) in Mali, noted for its radical Islamist agenda and advanced weaponry.
© 2026 Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
