Fulani herdsmen killed 48 Christians in central Nigeria’s Benue state between 24 November and 1 December, sources said.
The gunmen killed 18 Christians, including women and children, who were on their way to church services in Azege village, Logo County on 1 December, and 30 others were slain in Logo and Katsina-Ala counties on 24 November, area residents told sources.
“The Fulani herdsmen, armed with deadly weapons, shot sporadically on the Christians, butchered some victims with machetes, and destroyed their crops on farmlands,” said Benjamin Uzenda, former member of the Logo Local Government Council.
In Nigeria’s National Assembly, Sen. Emmanuel Udende of Benue state on 5 December lamented the killing of the 18 villagers on their way to church “by suspected armed herdsmen”.
“These attacks perpetrated by herdsmen have continued unabated, undermining security, peace and the socio-economic stability of the affected communities,” Udende said, adding that since 22 October, herdsmen have also ambushed and killed 15 people in Ayilamo, 25 in Anyiin and 6 in Uzer village.
“The continuous insecurity in these areas is in direct contravention of the constitutional provision under section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” Udende said.
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, also representing Benue state in the National Assembly, said during the discourse that the killings should be investigated.
“When people come, kill and go away it calls for concerns, and I think it should be properly investigated,” Moro said. “We need to understand what is happening. We must get to the root of this matter because I don’t think it is as simple as we see it.”
In the 24 November killings, more than 300 armed Fulani herdsmen attacked predominantly Christian communities in Logo and Katsina-Ala counties, said community leader Joseph Anawah.
“They overwhelmingly attacked our people, shooting anyone in sight and killing 30 Christians,” Anawah told sources.
Clement Kav, chairman of the Logo Local Government Council, confirmed that 30 people died and added that 37 others were wounded.
Catherine Anene, spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, told sources, “It is true that there have been attacks on some communities in Benue state, but know that the police and other security agencies are doing all that is necessary in order to end these attacks.”
Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians’ lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
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