07/19/2021 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – More than 11,000 people were displaced from 16 different villages last week in the Miango community of Nigeria’s Plateau State.
Militant Fulani Herdsmen were reported to have conducted the attacks on the farming communities. “This is the risk to farm as a Christian,” an eyewitness told a local ICC contact, “going to the farm is like committing suicide”.
Nigeria is the biggest killing ground of Christians today, but few are aware of it. Christian farming villages are repeatedly attacked in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region and tens of thousands have died over the last 20 years. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Christians have lost everything and are living as refugees.
“More Christians will die of hunger in Nigeria if nothing is done to stop farm destruction by Fulani Muslims,” another local source told ICC. “They want us out of our land… the government is silent, not saying the truth because the President is a Fulani Muslim. Farms are destroyed daily without reporting… nobody is saying anything about it.”
Outside of Miango community, in the village of Rikwechogu, suspected herdsmen came at night and destroyed over 16.5 million Nigerian Naira worth of farms, just prior to harvesting. Multiple homes were also burned down.
“I was at Rikwechongu earlier today (July 11th) to witness for myself the magnitude of the farm destruction in the village by herder assailants,” reported a local ICC contact, “I tell you what my eyes saw is devastating and a total act of inhumanity – more than 50 houses destroyed belonging to 35 families.”
“This same community has been completely destroyed four times within the span of six years,” He added.
“The Nigerian government is not willing to help us,” a Rikwechogu community leader told ICC, “We are tired of receiving no compensation.”
Please pray for Christian communities around Nigeria that are suffering from the devastation of militant groups intent on driving them from their ancestral lands. Whether Boko Haram, Islamic State, or Fulani militants, the harm caused by religious violence in Nigeria is massive and victims of these groups need your prayers.
For interviews, please contact Addison Parker: press@persecution.org.
