6/27/2023 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — Christian communities in Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria, were heavily hit this month by radical Fulani militants. Dozens of Christian farms were destroyed by militants who then used the land for their livestock.
Thirty-seven Christian farmers saw their crops destroyed and land taken over by Fulani this month. More than 27 hectares (about 66 acres) of land – containing maize, soybeans, and potatoes – were lost in Bassa County.
One tactic of the radical Fulani has been to let their cattle stray and graze on Christian farmland, claim the animals were stolen, and return to attack the farms and communities.
Between 2017 to 2022, more than 2,000 Christians were killed in Bassa County and over 200 hectares of farmland destroyed. This included 42 hectares of land supported by ICC for the Irigwe chiefdom.
The leader of the Irigwe Youth Movement told an ICC staffer that farm destruction has caused more than 10 billion Naira (about $13 million in U.S. dollars) in losses without compensation or relief from the government.
“This is the second time my farm was destroyed this year,” said one farmer- pastor near Miango who also had his house burned down.
