Three Christians were killed on 6 January in the latest attack on Christians in the Middle Belt region over the Christmas period. They were killed in a late-night attack by suspected Muslim Fulani militants on the village of Sha in Bokkos County in Plateau state.
Samuel Amalau, chairman of the Bokkos Local Government Council, responded to the attack saying, “This is a season of jubilation and excitement across our land, yet some individuals, driven by malicious intent, have chosen to cause harm to lives and property. This act is deeply disheartening and unacceptable.”
Tensions had been heightened in the area since early December when rumours spread that Fulani militants planned to destroy Bokkos and other surrounding villages. In response, police restricted movement in the threatened villages from 23 December to 3 January. They also banned a range of night-time activities. Over two hundred Christians were killed in multiple attacks on Bokkos at Christmas 2023.
Christmas Day attacks in Benue state
Thirty-three people were killed when Fulani herdsmen attacked five predominantly Christian villages in Kwande County in Benue state on Christmas Day. The villages of Anwase, Ubutu, Tse Azege, Nyiev-ya and Ityuluv came under attack. Abraham Kyambe from Anwase village said the victims had been killed in “a brutal attack by Fulani herdsmen terrorists. The assault has resulted in the destruction of farm products worth millions of naira, leaving the community reeling. As the people of Kwande struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of the attack, the question on everyone’s mind is: What’s next? Will the government take decisive action to protect its citizens, or will the cycle of violence continue unchecked? The attacks on these communities occurred when the people were busy celebrating Christmas with their loved ones.”
Hyacinth Alia, Governor of Benue state and an ordained Roman Catholic priest,
condemned the attacks and promised swift government action. “These attacks are a heinous assault on unarmed, innocent citizens of Benue state by suspected armed herders,” he said. “I can assure you the perpetrators of this act will pay dearly for it. They may think they are not known, but they cannot be allowed to continue perpetrating this. It’s a matter of time.”
Baby among the dead in pre-Christmas attack
Fifteen people, including a one-year-old baby and 13-year-old child, were killed in a night attack on 22 December on the predominantly Christian community of Gideon Ado in Riyom County in Plateau state. Fourteen of those killed in the attack were named locally as Azumi Moses (13), Isere Moses (35), Basuna Moses (22), Sheba Ernest (1), Chama Ernest (20), Dauda Arabo, (48), Hassana Wula (52), Faith Basuna (19), Laraba Randi (18), Danlami Gado (50), Moses Yakubu (48), Talatu Hassan (42), Agumo Monday(20) and Mary Stephen (33).
Local leader Clement Chup condemned the “gruesome killing of innocent, law abiding Nigerians”, saying: “We are saddened by this callous and avoidable murder of 15 persons in a settlement just a stone’s throw from a military check-point along the Vom-Ganawuri highway. This no doubt calls to question the commitment of the security agencies in their mandate of securing lives and property of Nigerians.” The assault, in which dozens of houses were set on fire, took place during a government curfew of 6 pm to 6 am.
“We are therefore baffled as to how the criminals found their way to perpetuate their evil plans without the security personnel dictating them,” Chup said. “This is most disturbing, as these attacks and killings have been reoccurring within the community.”
Church in Chains partner Stefanos Foundation said that it was saddened by these reports. In a statement, Stefanos wrote: “The attack in Plateau is another target on Christians and Christmas. Stefanos condemns the practice of purposely targeting to inflict pain on Christians during the Yuletide. It is worrisome that even with the ‘Black Christmas’ attacks anniversary and despite warnings from Stefanos Foundation and other organisations, the military still failed to prevent the attack. Stefanos is still calling for a beefed up security and surveillance, especially in Riyom Local Government Area.”
(Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, Stefanos Foundation)
Photos: Bokkos village funeral: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News/Facebook
Anwase village funeral: Abraham Kwambe/Facebook
Gideon Ado village funeral: Irigwe Youth Movement/Facebook