NIGERIA: 37 Christians Killed in Three Weeks

In the last three weeks, 37 Christians have been killed by Fulani Militants and other terrorist groups in Nigeria’s Benue state.

The first in this series of attacks occurred on 30 June, where gunmen killed one Christian and injured two others. On 8 July, a “band of terrorists” attacked two Christian communities and massacred 30 Christians. Most recently, on 16 July, six Christians were killed in a Sunday night raid.

“The terrorists, who accompanied armed (militant) 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,” a local resident said.

The Fulani, who are majority Muslim, is the world’s largest nomadic ethnic group. While most Fulani lives at peace with their neighbours, militant Fulanis, radicalised by extreme Islam, have emerged from their people group with jihadist intent. Fulani militants, along with many other terror groups and “bandits” known for their violence in Nigeria, have contributed to making Nigeria one of the world’s most dangerous places to be a Christian.