6/23/2025 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — At least 21 people, including a Christian Fulani hunter, have been confirmed dead following a series of attacks carried out by suspected Fulani militias in rural communities across Plateau state, Nigeria.

The violence, which unfolded in several districts during the past week, reflects an ongoing pattern of religiously motivated killings targeting Christian populations in the country’s Middle Belt region.

One of the victims, Yakubu Isa, a Fulani Christian from Bassa County, was reportedly ambushed and killed by Fulani assailants. Isa, a well-known hunter and church member, was murdered in a remote area.

According to his pastor, the attackers later called Isa’s family and instructed them to retrieve his corpse from an undisclosed location. However, as of the time of this report, the body had not been recovered, and security personnel were still searching for it.

Isa had previously been targeted in a 2021 attack, also linked to Fulani militants. At that time, Isa and his local church were attacked, and the building was burned down. His family, now struggling with economic hardship, is left without a husband and father to provide for his wife and four children.

On June 15, three Irigwe men were ambushed on Kperie Road in Kwall District, Bassa County. Two of them — Sunday Yakubu, 30, and Sunday Goji John, 34 — were killed instantly. A third victim, Stephen Yusuf, 34, sustained gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Yusuf told an International Christian Concern (ICC) staffer, “Three Fulani attacked us. We did nothing. I escaped by a miracle.”

Joseph Chudu Yonkpa, national publicity secretary of the Irigwe Youth Movement, confirmed the attack in a statement issued on June 16. He expressed concern over what he described as “continued inaction” by security forces in the region. As of this writing, no arrests have been made in connection with the killings.

Separately, on the night of June 20, gunmen stormed two communities in Mangu and Bokkos counties, leaving at least 19 people dead. Six residents were killed in Manja, Chakfem District of Mangu, while 13 others lost their lives in Tangur, Bokkos County.

Witnesses report that the attackers arrived at night, firing sporadically and forcing their way into homes. The attacks in Bokkos began around 9 p.m., catching most residents as they prepared for bed. The Chakfem assault occurred earlier in the evening, but with similar patterns of violence.

Mathias Ibrahim, director of culture at the Mwaghavul Development Association and director of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Mangu, confirmed the death toll from the Mangu attack and said that the atmosphere remains tense, with residents fearing additional violence.

Efforts to reach traditional leaders in Bokkos for further comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The Fulani are a large ethnic group spread across West Africa, traditionally known as nomadic herders. In Nigeria, the Fulani have historically moved cattle across vast distances. However, in recent years, segments of the Fulani population have been linked to violent extremist activity, particularly in the Middle Belt region, where conflict over land and identity has become increasingly sectarian.

While many Fulani are peaceful and coexist with other ethnic groups, others, often armed and organized into militias, have been responsible for repeated attacks on Christian farming communities. These attacks frequently go unpunished, leading to accusations of state negligence and a culture of impunity.

Analysts say these killings are no longer merely communal clashes over grazing routes but are increasingly being driven by religious extremism and territorial dominance.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), international human rights groups, and members of the U.S. Congress have raised concerns over the growing wave of violence against Christians in Nigeria. The U.S. The Commission on International Religious Freedom has repeatedly called for Nigeria to be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” due to the state’s failure to prevent or respond to violence against religious minorities.

Since January 2025, at least 120 Christians have been killed in Plateau state alone, according to ICC data. Survivors frequently report delayed or absent security responses, even when attacks occur near military installations or checkpoints.

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