Mounting Violence Against Christians in Plateau State, Nigeria
In a series of tragic events in Plateau State, Nigeria, more than 30 Christians have lost their lives over the past month, reportedly at the hands of Fulani herdsmen. The violence has cast a shadow over Mangu County, where communities are reeling from continued attacks.
The most recent assault occurred on September 5, resulting in the deaths of three Christians across two villages. According to local resident Leo Lawrence, “A Christian was killed in Fungtim community, while two other Christians were killed in Kinat community.”
Earlier, on September 3, two more Christians were killed in the Kinat and Kop-Naanle villages. Community leader Tubwot Sunday reported the victims as Mr. Bulus Danladi, 78, and Mr. Kwopnaan Lot Yunana, 33.
The deadliest attack unfolded on August 18 in Bin-Per village, where Fulani herdsmen reportedly killed 25 Christians. Nelson Dogara, a resident, described the aftermath as a community “bleeding” from the overnight assault.
Jeremiah Dakahap, a spokesperson for the Mangu Local Government Council, confirmed the tragic events. “We are still grieving the tragic killing of 25 Christians in Bin-Per village in Mangu Local Government Area,” Dakahap stated.
Survivors like Daniel Musa recounted the devastation, highlighting that “most of the victims were women and children.” Homes were torched, and crops destroyed, exacerbating the community’s plight.
Protests erupted in Sabon Layi, Mangu County, on August 18, leading to the death of a Christian at the hands of soldiers. Jonathan Yusuf, a community leader, called for justice, emphasizing the need for a transparent investigation into the incident.
Other attacks throughout August included a deadly raid on Murish village, where a 20-year-old, Moses Emmanuel Panse, was killed. In Jwak Maitumbi, 38 homes were burned down, and farmlands ravaged.
Yusuf has voiced the community’s demand for accountability, stating, “We cannot continue to bury our community members while perpetrators remain unidentified, unarrested and unprosecuted.”
State police spokesperson Alfred Alabo announced the arrest of some suspects linked to the assaults. Meanwhile, Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang visited affected areas, assuring locals, “We will do everything within our powers to ensure that you remain on your land.”
Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List ranks Nigeria as a particularly dangerous country for Christians, with 3,490 killed for their faith from October 2024 to September 2025. This accounts for 72 percent of the global total of Christian fatalities for that period.
While the Fulani are a vast and varied ethnic group, some have adopted extremist ideologies, according to a 2020 report by the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief. The report indicates these factions target Christians and their communities, following strategies reminiscent of Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Christian leaders in Nigeria suggest that land acquisition and religious imposition drive these attacks, heightened by environmental challenges affecting the Fulani’s traditional lifestyle. Jihadist activities, including abductions for ransom, have surged, further destabilizing the region.
Emerging threats such as the jihadist group Lakurawa, linked to Al-Qaeda, have extended the violence to southern states, notes the World Watch List. This group, equipped with advanced weaponry, perpetuates the cycle of violence and fear.
For more information, visit the full report at Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
