12/11/2023 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — After multiple attacks on a village in northcentral Nigeria’s Plateau state from Fulani militants, a sense of hope emerged as the community reunited for a special Christmas service.  

Fulani militants set the church ablaze in 2021 during an attack that lasted three days during the Easter season. During the attack, the villagers lost loved ones and all their belongings. The church was left without a roof. The entire community was displaced. International Christian Concern (ICC) funded a roofing project for one of the damaged churches in the community.  

An ICC staff member attended the Christmas service. The villagers worshipped at the church for the first time under a roof since the attack. 

The pastor said that he appreciated ICC for putting a roof on their church, and the church secretary said the roof encouraged more villagers to return. Previously, villagers stopped going to the church in fear after the attack.  

Before the roof, the church averaged 100 congregants weekly. But now, more than 400 churchgoers have returned, and they expect more to return on Christmas.  

During the service, Christians from the village happily sang Christmas songs of praise. They sat on stones, listening to the pastor preach from Matthew 1:16, and encouraged Christians to celebrate this year’s Christmas, hoping they would be free from Fulani militant attacks. 

The pastor told ICC how Fulani militants burned his house and was forced to sleep outside. “Today, I am alive to see my church is roofed,” he said.  

A widow whose husband was killed in the attacks expressed her gratitude for the help she received from ICC. We helped her with a grinding machine to start a business. Now, her church has a roof.  

She demanded justice for affected victims, like herself, and wants the Nigerian government to speak out against the attacks from the Fulani militants.  

For interviews, please contact [email protected].