08/23/2023 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) reported earlier this month on the brutal attack in Nigeria that left 21 Christians dead. None of the perpetrators has been arrested, which is common in the Middle Belt.

Gunmen swarmed into Heipang village, a Christian farming community in north-central Nigeria, in the middle of the night and began shooting at random. Most of the victims were internally displaced people (IDP) who had fled violence earlier. At least five of those killed were infants.

Nigerian law enforcement in the region will likely never find and arrest the perpetrators.

According to local sources, these attacks are becoming more common, and the perpetrators are rarely caught and prosecuted by local law enforcement.

Father Polycarp Lubo, Chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Plateau State, said that systematic killings like the one a few weeks ago have a long history in the state. He further emphasized the need for these atrocities to be investigated.

The Heipang community has lost more than 100 villagers in attacks over the past two decades, with no arrests. Villagers in Heipang and Mangu blame radicalized Fulani militants and herders for causing the attacks on the mostly Christian farming communities.

They say the government is complicit and unable to prevent the attacks – a common thread in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region that has been rocked by violence with tens of thousands of Christians killed over the past 20 years. Subsequently, perpetrators can continue committing violent crimes with little to no repercussions.

For interviews, please contact: [email protected]