Nigeria Islamic Herdsmen Kill 22 Christians

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy Nees

ABUJA (Worthy News)— Suspected Fulani herdsmen who seek to take over farmland and impose Islam have killed as many as 22 Christians in central Nigeria, Christian sources said Friday.

Fulani herdsmen reportedly murdered four Christians in Plateau state Saturday, January 22, after 18 Christians were massacred in another area of the state on January 11.

In the two attacks, eight other Christians were reported wounded, and in one village, 24 homes were burned down, said Christian news agency Morning Star News (MSN).

In the latest known attack, the armed assailants reportedly attacked Christians in Dong village, on the outskirts of Jos city in North County, on late Saturday, January 22, at about 6 p.m.

They “killed four and wounded two others,” MSN quoted area resident Rejoice Johnson as saying.

The attacks led to protests the following day as Fulani herdsmen reportedly also attacked the area in May, killing seven Christians.

Earlier on January 11 in Ancha village, in Miango District of Bassa County, suspected Fulani “herdsmen attacked at midnight, killing 18 Christians. They had earlier ambushed other Christians the previous day,” said area resident Danjuma Auta quoted by MSN.

Davidson Malison, a representative of the predominantly Christian Irigwe ethnic group, confirmed the January 11 killings are, saying six of those slain were children.

The attackers underscored international concerns about the plight of Christians in several areas of Nigeria. The country ranks 7 in the annual World Watch List (WWL) of advocacy group Open Doors. Nigeria jumped up two places on the WWL of 50 countries where Christians are persecuted, Open Doors said.

Christian leaders in Nigeria believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to “forcefully take over Christians’ lands.”

Fulani fighters also seek to impose Islam in conquered areas where they try to sustain their herds, according to area Christians and activists.

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