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Massacre of Christians In Nigeria Triggers Global Condemnation
A horrific massacre of Christians in Nigeria,with estimates reaching 200 victims,has ignited a wave of shock and condemnation worldwide. International aid organizations are describing the event as the “worst killing spree” witnessed in the region to date. This surge of violence adds to the already alarming trend of attacks on Christian communities in the country.
Fulani Militants Attack Christian Community
Heavily armed Fulani militants reportedly launched a coordinated assault on the Christian village of Yelwata, located in Guma county, Benue State. The attacks spanned two days, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Yelwata served as a refuge for Internally displaced Persons (IDPs) seeking safety from previous attacks.
Micheel Odeh James, with truth Nigeria, stated that Benue State is overwhelmingly Christian, with approximately 6 to 7 million Christians residing there. He recounted the horrific scenes, stating that militants set fire to buildings while residents slept and attacked fleeing individuals with machetes.
James described the event as a “genocidal massacre,” detailing gruesome acts of violence, including locking people inside their homes, dousing them with gasoline, and setting them ablaze. He also confirmed reports of babies being burned alive.
The violence is part of a larger pattern. Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List ranks Nigeria as the seventh most hazardous place in the world for Christians, highlighting the persistent threats they face.
Eyewitness Accounts Detail Brutality
Reports given to aid To The Church In Need (ACN) indicate that police intervention prevented the militants from storming St. joseph’s Church in Yelwata, where approximately 700 people were seeking shelter. Frustrated, the attackers turned their focus to the town’s market square. There, they allegedly used fuel to ignite the accommodations of displaced people before opening fire on over 500 sleeping individuals.
According to Genocide Watch, an eyewitness reported that 40 gunmen, riding motorcycles in pairs and shouting “Allahu Akbar,” indiscriminately fired upon the villagers. The gunmen reportedly came from Rukubi in Doma, Keana, Obi, and other counties in Nasarawa State.
Mton Matthias, a local youth leader, stated that the attackers surrounded Yelwata, speaking Hausa and Fufulde, and began slaughtering people, primarily women, children, and displaced families. He added, “We’re still finding bodies in the bushes. The death toll is rising every hour.”
Calls For International Intervention Intensify
James emphasized the lack of protection for Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, stating, “Christians are being slaughtered in a gruesome manner…and unluckily, nothing is happening (to protect them).”
Faith leaders in the United States are urging the U.S. State Department to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a designation reserved for countries engaged in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins stated, “America must use its influence to protect Christians and others being targeted by Islamists. The U.S. government should redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and sanction the Nigerian government.”
brian Orme, president and CEO of Global Christian relief, called for unity in prayer and action, stating, “The massacre of up to 200 Christians in Yelewata, Nigeria, is a heartbreaking reminder of the suffering our brothers and sisters endure for their faith…Now is the time for the global body of Christ to unite…making it clear that our persecuted family is not alone.”
Political Motivations Behind Underreporting?
A spokesperson with Truth Nigeria suggests that the attacks are not being widely publicized due to political reasons.
According to the spokesperson, the previous administration under Muhammad Buhari, who is Fulani, downplayed the killings as “farmers clash,” suppressing press coverage that defined the violence as “genocidal killing prompted by land grabbing.”
Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula, Director of Makurdi’s Justice, Peace and Advancement foundation (JPDF), asserts that the violence against Christians is not random, explaining that “These Fulani militias are not just killing-they’re clearing land to claim it…And they’re being allowed to do it.”
