(Photo: Morning Star News)
Violence erupted in central Nigeria as gunmen, identified by locals as “Fulani terrorists,” launched a deadly attack on Mbwelle village, Plateau state. The raid, occurring late Thursday night, resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Christians, as confirmed by area residents.
The assault took place near Bokkos town around 9 p.m., according to witnesses. Moses Kefas, a local resident, reported via text message to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, “An attack is currently ongoing in my village, Mbwelle. Twenty members of our community have died, and seven of them are members of my family.”
Kefas provided names of eight individuals who perished, including church elder Iliya Mangut Dakus and others from the Dakus family. Additionally, Bearice Lucky Dakus suffered severe injuries from gunfire, and numerous residents are still unaccounted for as of Friday morning, April 10.
Polycarp Gomwus, another resident, described the attackers as Fulani terrorists, emphasizing that the assault was unprovoked. “What a sad reality Christians are forced to live with daily,” he remarked. Faith Ayuba called for prayers, urging divine intervention for the embattled community.
Other locals, including Benita Simon and Felix Kasha, corroborated the number of fatalities, asserting that 20 Christians were killed during the attack.
Jos Attack
In a separate incident in southern Jos, Plateau state, Fulani herdsmen attacked Gyel Gero in Jos South Local Government Area on Good Friday, April 3, resulting in the deaths of three Christians, according to local sources.
Pastor Nansen John reported that the assailants arrived on motorbikes, targeting the community as they observed Good Friday. “The incident… has thrown the community into mourning,” Pastor John noted, while resident Jessy Jay expressed concern over the frequent attacks, questioning when the violence would cease.
Reports indicate that the Jos South, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom areas have experienced over eight mass burials within the past five months due to such violence. Police spokesman Alfred Alabo confirmed that local law enforcement responded promptly and has since enforced a statewide ban on night grazing and mining activities to protect lives and property.
This attack follows a March 29 assault on the Angwan Rukuba area in Jos, where over 28 Christians were slain.
According to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, Nigeria remains the deadliest country for Christians, with 3,490 killings from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. This figure represents 72% of the 4,849 Christians killed globally for their faith during that period.
The U.K.’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report that while the Fulani are predominantly Muslim and numerous across Nigeria and the Sahel, only some adhere to radical Islamist ideologies.
The APPG report highlights the targeting of Christians and symbolic Christian sites in a strategy akin to Boko Haram and ISWAP. In Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly the North-Central zone, Fulani militia attacks have been attributed to efforts to seize land and impose Islam, exacerbated by desertification challenges.
The violence has escalated in northern and southern regions, with jihadist groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, and the emerging group Lakurawa, affiliated with Al-Qaeda’s JNIM, intensifying their activities. These groups continue to pose significant threats through abductions, assaults, and the use of advanced weaponry.
© 2026 Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
