8/18/2025 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — As a group of Christians left a morning devotion time and returned to their homes in the village of Gwon in Plateau state, Nigeria, armed militants opened fire on them.

The gunmen, believed to be Islamic Fulani extremists, killed three men: Stephen Maigadi, 57; Josiah Dachollom, 32; and Davou Sunday, 30. Four others — Silvester Joshua, 23; Samson Musa, 25; Joshua Daniel; and Jonathan Yakubu — were injured, some critically.

According to residents, the Aug. 13 assault followed three consecutive days of attempted incursions into Gwon. Community self-defense groups had repelled each prior attempt. A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said they “waited until the moment people were leaving devotion,” adding that the victims were not armed.

The Berom Youth Moulder-Association (BYM), a sociocultural group representing the Berom ethnic people group, claimed the attack was deliberate.

“This was a well-planned, deliberate act,” BYM President Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri said. “The attackers’ objective was not only to kill but to cause displacement.”

Later that day, at about 6:46 p.m., another armed group attacked the village of Rinyan in the Tahoss Community, also in the Riyom local government area. Security forces from Sector 6 of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and the Nigerian Police Force responded, engaging the attackers until they retreated into nearby hills. No casualty numbers from Rinyan have been independently confirmed. Repeated calls to residents went unanswered. BYM commended the prompt security response in Rinyan but questioned the absence of security earlier in the day during the Gwon assault.

Fulani extremists have attacked Christian farming communities in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, and Bassa counties often during the last decade. Local leaders have accused the Bangai Fulani of conducting several raids in recent years, often during critical agricultural periods such as planting or harvest seasons.

In 2024, the Global Terrorism Index ranked Nigeria as eighth on a list of countries affected by terrorism. Data compiled by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) indicates that more than 8,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria between January 2021 and July 2024, with Plateau state accounting for a significant proportion. Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List placed Nigeria at No. 6 globally for Christian persecution, citing attacks by Islamist extremist groups, armed herdsmen, and other non-state actors. Advocacy groups reported that between January and June 2025, more than 450 Christians were killed in Plateau state alone.

In Gwon, residents described the attack as swift and overwhelming. “We heard gunshots from three directions,” a youth leader said. “People ran into the bush, leaving their farms and homes.”

The wounded were taken to local health facilities, and some required transfer to Jos for specialized care. With the farming season underway, displacement and injuries could affect the community’s ability to harvest. Schools in several rural Plateau communities also operate intermittently due to security concerns, with parents hesitant to send children long distances on foot.

As of this report, the Plateau State Government had not issued a statement regarding the Aug. 13 attacks. Operation Safe Haven spokespersons confirmed the engagement in Rinyan but did not comment on the Gwon assault. Security analysts in Plateau cite difficult terrain, semi-permanent militant camps, limited road networks, and intelligence gaps as factors hampering rapid response.

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