At Least 140 Fatalities Due to Christmas Attacks

The Christmas season was anything but peaceful for Christians in Plateau State, Nigeria, this past December. Approximately 20 Christian-majority communities were targeted during a series of coordinated attacks committed by Islamic Fulani militants on December 23rd through to the 25th. By the time the assailants left after causing widespread devastation, hundreds of homes were burned, along with eight church buildings. Thousands of innocent villagers were displaced and/or injured, and more than 140 people were killed, including two pastors.

The ordeal has been referred to as the worst attack on Christians in the area since 2018. Bishop Matthew Kukah has called on the newly elected Nigerian president to take immediate action. In his address, the bishop emphasized his concern that "Nigerians have almost lost hope" in the government's promises of intervention.

Various reasons have been speculated for the ongoing attacks of Christian persecution perpetrated by militant Fulani groups. In response to the latest outbreak of violence, Gideon Para-Mallam, a Nigerian church leader, stated: "A terrible genocide is taking place in Plateau State, but it is being window-dressed to look like a clash between farmers and herders. Sadly, false and misleading narratives are created while rivers of blood continue to flow."

In a separate attack that took place in the eastern state of Adamawa, a group of assailants, believed to be members of Boko Haram or a faction of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), raided the village of Kwapre on Christmas Day. Houses had been set on fire, shops were looted, and two Christians ended up tragically killed. The attackers then fled on their motorcycles into the Sambisa forest, which has been a key Boko Haram hideout for years.

An extensive podcast report, in which host Greg Musselman interviews Andrew Boyd of Release International, has just been released. During their discussion on the persecution trends for 2024, they address the Plateau State's recently occurring attacks in light of the ongoing challenges facing Christians in Nigeria. To view this informative video, click here.

Please pray for the thousands of innocent Nigerians who were impacted by this most recent series of devastating attacks. Ask the Lord to minister healing to the injured victims and provide greatly needed comfort to those who are now mourning the tragic loss of their loved ones. Pray that He will also minister to the spiritual and practical needs of the many displaced believers who've lost their homes and/or livelihoods due to the violence. In the process, may God grant wisdom and guidance to the country's political and spiritual leaders, providing them effective strategies that will prevent further attacks from taking place against our Nigerian family in Christ and the unnecessary bloodshed of so many innocent lives.