Suspected Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed three Christians in Benue State, Nigeria, on Sept. 18, after slaughtering at least 22 others in the same area in past three weeks, Morning Star News reported.
The assailants attacked predominantly Christian Tse Ngban village in Guma County at about 4 p.m.
“The Fulani herdsmen who attacked the Ngban community were more than two dozen, and they were all armed with guns,” a source told morning Star News in a text message. “They killed three members of our community.”
The source added that in the prior three weeks, the predominantly Muslim herdsmen killed 13 Christians in attacks on the villages of Tse Numgbera, Umella, Yogobo and Ukohol, also in Guma County. Four of the 13 Christians were killed on Sept. 9-10 in two villages, Ukohol and Yogobo, including two women, Morning Star News reported.
“The herdsmen also destroyed houses belonging to these Christians by setting fire on them during the attacks, which lasted for two days, Friday and Saturday, the 9th and 10th of September,” a source told Morning Star News. “A week earlier, nine Christians were killed in separate attacks in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) by these herdsmen.”
In addition, Ubah said nine other Christians were killed in the first week of September in the county, three in Tse Numgbera village on Sept. 3, and six in Umella village on Sept. 1.
More than 6,000 Christians in three counties of Benue state have been displaced as a result of recent attacks, Morning Star News reported.
Masked animists in Plateau State
In Plateau state, followers of traditional religion wearing masks attacked a church service on Sunday (Sept. 18), injuring several members, sources said.
The masked, tribal animists, known locally as Masquerades, assaulted the pastor and church members and destroyed equipment of the Assemblies of God Church in Shikal village, Langtang South County, area residents said. They said the assailants told the Christians that they should not hold worship services while the Masquerades were performing their traditional religion rituals.
In the 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 9 the previous year.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
