8/6/2025 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — At least nine people, including a police officer, were killed between Aug. 1-5, in a series of coordinated attacks on villages in Agatu County of Nigeria’s Benue state.

The victims belonged to Christian farming communities targeted in what locals suspect were reprisal assaults by armed Fulani herdsmen.

According to residents, the attackers crossed into Agatu from neighboring Kogi state, carried out the assaults, and then fled across the state border. The villages affected include Okwutanobe, Okpokpolo, Olegagbani, and Ikpele.

“The attacks started Friday in Okwutanobe, where two people were killed,” a local named Odeny said. “On Saturday, one person was killed in Okpokpolo. On Monday, they attacked Olegagbani and killed one person. On Tuesday, they struck again in Ikpele, killing a police officer and four civilians.”

James Melvin, chair of the county, confirmed the attacks and the number of deaths.

“I can confirm that four people were killed in the first three villages, and five more, including a police officer, were killed in Ikpele on Tuesday,” he said.

Melvin suggested the motive may be linked to recent claims by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), who alleged cattle rustling in the Agatu area.

“We condemn these attacks,” Melvin said. “I think it was a reprisal for their earlier report of cattle rustling in Agatu communities. We are appealing to them to give the government time to investigate instead of taking the law into their own hands.”

He added that poor infrastructure continues to hamper the efforts of security forces.

“We appreciate the efforts of security personnel, but the condition of our roads is making it very difficult for them to respond quickly to attacks,” he said.

Agatu, part of Benue’s Idoma-speaking Christian community, is historically a farming region that has faced ongoing violence related to farmer-herder disputes. Attacks in 2016 razed villages and displaced thousands, with many residents still recovering.

Some armed Fulani herders have been linked to attacks on Christian farmers in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Tensions between nomadic herders and settled farming communities have risen in recent years.

According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 2,000 people were killed in herder-related violence in Nigeria in 2023 alone. States such as Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Taraba are among those hardest hit.

The Agatu attacks are part of a broader pattern of violence against Christians in Nigeria. According to Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List, Nigeria had the highest number of Christians killed, with militant groups and herder militias frequently blamed.

International Christian Concern (ICC) has documented widespread displacement of Christian farmers in Nigeria, with many losing access to their land after attacks.

In Agatu, more than 20,000 displaced families continue to live in camps for internally displaced persons or with relatives in safer areas. Humanitarian groups, such as Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have warned about worsening conditions for these displaced populations, especially during the planting and harvest seasons.

The Aug. 5 Incident in Ikpele marks one of the deadliest single-day attacks in the area this year. Earlier in February 2025, six people were killed in Okokolo and Adana, two other villages in Agatu. In June, suspected Fulani militants reportedly attacked a church compound in Gwer West County, resulting in the deaths of three worshippers.

Despite efforts by local authorities and peacebuilding organizations, residents said the attacks often occur without warning and with limited protection. The lack of rapid response mechanisms, combined with difficult terrain and poor roads, continues to limit the ability of security agencies to prevent or contain the violence.

As of Aug. 6, there have been no official arrests in connection with the attacks. The Benue State Police Command has yet to release a formal statement, although officers have reportedly been deployed to monitor the affected communities.

Christian leaders and local civil society organizations have repeatedly called on the Nigerian federal government to strengthen security, investigate the attacks thoroughly, and bring perpetrators to justice.

According to Nigerian demographic records, Christians comprise an estimated 97% of the population in Benue, with many belonging to denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), and the Anglican Church of Nigeria.

The Christian faith remains a central part of the identity of Agatu and other rural communities in Benue. Local churches often serve as centers for spiritual and social support. In recent years, some churches have doubled as shelters for survivors of attacks.

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