Nigeria: Genocidal attacks on Christians continue in Benue state

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The slaughter of Christians in Nigeria continues as Fulani jihadist herdsmen murdered 37 Christians during attacks carried out in Benue state over the last four weeks, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. With well over 50,000 Christians murdered since Islamic terrorists seized control of swathes of the country in 2015, 

The predominantly Muslim Fulani people comprise hundreds of tribes of different lineages, most of whom are entirely peaceful. However, elements of the Fulani have been radicalized to adhere to extreme Islamic beliefs: together with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, they have murdered tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria. In a 2020 report, the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted: “[The Fulani] adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity.”

The latest Fulani attacks on Christians in Benue occurred on July 16, July 8, and June 30, MSN reports. Six Christians were killed in the July 16 attacks on the predominantly Christian villages of Igba-Ukyor and Tse Baka villages, Ushongo County. “The terrorists, who accompanied armed herdsmen, first attacked Igba-Ukyor village, where they killed five Christians, and then proceeded to a second village, Tse Baka, where they killed one Christian,” Iortyom told MSN in a text message.

Thirty Christians were murdered on July 8 in attacks on Zaki Akpuuna and Diom villages, MSN reports. “The band of terrorists was made up of about 20 who were armed with deadly weapons,” Kartyo Tyoumbur, the Ukum council chairman, told MSN. “They burned down several houses. Thirty corpses of Christians killed were recovered, while searching for missing Christians is ongoing,” Tyoumbur said. 

One Christian was killed on June 30 in Tse Anwhwan village, Logo County, MSN reports. “Terrorists have been invading some communities in some local government areas of Benue state. Police teams, in collaboration with other security agencies, have been deployed to affected areas to engage these bandits,” Catherine Anene, spokesperson for the Benue State Command, said in a statement about the recent killings.

Nigeria ranks 6th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted; 5,014 Christians were murdered in Nigeria last year.

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