06/24/2019 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – Fulani Militants attacked four separate villages last week, killing at least 13 Christians, two of which were children under ten. The attacks took place in two of Nigeria’s Middle Belt states, Kaduna and Plateau. Both of these states have been epicenters of violence and attacks on Christians over the past several years.
Attacks like these claimed more than 2,000 lives in 2018 alone. Tens of thousands of Christians were displaced from their ancestral homes and lands and are still struggling to find land or work to care for their families. Many in the international community still try and claim that these are just historical clashes between two competing socio-economic groups who need access to land. This rhetoric says that Fulani herders need land and water for their cows, while other ethnic farmers need land for their crops. When they clash it is over this land usage.
While this may explain some of the smaller conflicts that take place, it can’t explain the large scale invasions of Christian communities that have devastated thousands. Today marks one year since Fulani militants invaded the communities of Barkin Ladi in Plateau state. During three days of attacks, more than 230 Christians were slaughtered in their homes, on their farms and even as they fled their lands. That attack was the biggest in recent history and has had devastating effects since. The Fulani who invaded, have since had control over the lands and villages that once belonged to the farmers. Not only did they kill Christians though, they destroyed Churches and targeted pastors. This is why there has to be a religious component to these attacks. Dozens of churches have been destroyed in these attacks over the past two years. Yet no mosques have been attacked by Fulani militants in that time. Please continue to pray for Christians in Nigeria, who the Nigerian government has forgotten and does not care to protect.
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