11/1/2024 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — Christian communities in northern Nigeria, especially those in Plateau state, continue to endure violent attacks by armed groups, notably Muslim Fulani extremists targeting predominantly Christian villages.

The Middle Belt region remains a hotbed for these brutal assaults, while the Islamic militant group Boko Haram is intensifying its activities against Christians in the Northeast.

At around 9 p.m. on Oct. 10, Fulani extremists ambushed workers at a mining site in Butura, Bokkos County, Plateau state, killing four and injuring five others.

The president of the Butura Youth Movement, Sabastine Magit, confirmed the attackers’ identity, underscoring the persistent threat that Christians face in the region. Despite early warnings of the attacks on social media and in local news, the Nigerian military is slow to respond to such attacks, leaving Christians vulnerable. More than 100 Christians have been killed in Bokkos this year alone, with no known arrests of perpetrators or their leaders.

In a tragic incident in the Gashish district of Barkin County, two students were ambushed and killed along Kurra Falls road. The victims, Obadiah Daryan, 25, a student at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Vom, and Ezekiel Monday, 21, a senior secondary school student, were attacked while riding a motorcycle. The assailants stole Daryan’s phone and fled the scene. In another incident, a young man named Francis Samuel was stabbed in Kwi community, Fass settlement, and remains hospitalized.

Boko Haram’s continued targeting of Christians in Northeastern Nigeria compounds the suffering. In Borno state, the extremist group killed four Christian farmers during harvest season, despite the local community leader in Chibok warning authorities. Survivors expressed frustration over the Nigerian military’s failure to provide protection, lamenting that attacks on Christian farmers often go unreported. One survivor emphasized the need for global awareness and prayer support for persecuted Christians in Borno.

The ongoing violence illustrates the dire situation for Nigeria’s Christian communities, who face relentless threats from both Fulani extremists and Islamic militant groups like Boko Haram. These attacks are not just acts of random violence but are often strategically aimed at uprooting Christian presence in these regions. International Christian Concern continues to document these atrocities to raise awareness and advocate for the safety and rights of Christians in Nigeria.

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