On Friday, April 7th, a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) was raided by militant forces believed to be members of the Fulani tribe. The camp in Benue State, Nigeria, houses approximately 30,000 people, mostly Christians who have been forced to flee their villages due to previous attacks.
The militants surrounded the village at around 7 p.m. and began indiscriminately killing anyone they encountered. While the statistical information provided by the above-mentioned news sources vary, at least 35 people, including pregnant women and children, were slaughtered during the attack. Of the numerous surviving victims who sustained injuries, more than 50 of them were reportedly transported to hospital.
While the violence plaguing Nigeria has ethnic and political elements, Christians are often specifically targeted by militant Islamic groups seeking control. For more information on the violence perpetrated against Nigeria's Christians, and/or to view available video reports, go to our country report.
Please prayerfully uphold the tremendous number of surviving inhabitants still residing in this Nigerian refugee camp, especially the family members and friends of those who have been recently killed, asking God to surround each one of them with His comforting presence during their time of mourning. Additionally, ask Him to minister physical healing to the many who were injured during the attack and psychological healing to all who have experienced so much trauma in their lives due to the ongoing persecution. May these displaced villagers be able to resettle in safe locations where they are shielded from future violence. Further, pray that the leaders of the camp, as well as the country's governing officials, will ensure greatly needed measures are taken to protect those who are vulnerable.
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