BENUE STATE, NIGERIA — In what is being described as the worst single atrocity against Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region in recent history, radical Islamic militants launched a coordinated attack over the weekend that left nearly 200 Christians dead and thousands displaced in Benue State. According to reports from the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the attack targeted internally displaced persons (IDPs)—many of them women and children—sheltering at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ukum Local Government Area.
The assault began late Friday and stretched into the early hours of
Saturday. Eyewitnesses say militants used machetes, firearms, and
fuel to burn buildings while victims slept. The initial death toll was
estimated at 100, but has now risen to at least 200, following a more
detailed count by the Foundation for Justice, Development and Peace,
affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi.
Inside the Attack:
What Really Happened
Reports indicate that the assailants, believed to be radicalized
Fulani herdsmen, approached the area quietly under cover of night. They
launched their attack using explosives and incendiaries, setting fire to
homes and church facilities where more than 500 IDPs were sleeping. Some
were burned alive; others were gunned down as they attempted to flee.
“When we heard the shots and saw the militants, we committed our lives to
God. This morning, I thank God I am alive,” said Fr. Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee, parish
priest at St. Joseph’s Church.
He described the horror of waking to the sound of gunfire and finding bodies
strewn across the church grounds, noting that many of the dead had visible
machete wounds and bullet holes.
“What I saw was truly gruesome. People were slaughtered. Corpses were
scattered everywhere.”
The Diocese of Makurdi, a historically Christian region, has been
the epicenter of mounting violence by Fulani militants and other extremist
groups. This particular attack is the most deadly in a string of recent
coordinated assaults on Christian communities across central Nigeria.
Where Is Benue State and Why Is It Under Attack?
Benue State is part of Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt, a region
where Christians and Muslims coexist but often clash over land,
religion, and ideology. The predominantly Christian Tiv and Idoma ethnic
groups in Benue have faced increasing aggression from nomadic Fulani
herders, many of whom have been radicalized and armed by Islamist
militant networks.
The "Fulani crisis", once a land dispute, has morphed
into an all-out religious conflict.
- The Fulani herdsmen, according to
Open Doors USA, are responsible for some of the worst attacks on
Christians in Nigeria.
- Their actions are often
coordinated with or inspired by Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic
State West Africa Province).
Nigeria currently ranks #7 on the World Watch List for Christian persecution, with over 10,000 Christians killed between 2022 and 2024, according to Global Christian Relief.
Death Toll and
Damage Assessment
Human Casualties:
- Estimated 200 dead, with more bodies expected to be
recovered
- Dozens injured, many without access to
emergency medical care
- Dozens missing, presumed dead or kidnapped
Property Damage:
- Multiple churches, homes,
and schools destroyed
- Internally Displaced Persons
(IDP) shelter torched
- Vehicles, livestock, and food
stores burned
According to eyewitness accounts and satellite images, entire
communities were flattened. Survivors have fled into the bush, with over 5,000
people displaced in Makurdi’s Gwer West and Ukum LGA alone.
Government Failure
or Willful Neglect?
One of the most alarming parts of this massacre is the continued
inaction of the Nigerian federal government.
Despite repeated warnings from local leaders and international Christian
advocacy groups, security agencies failed to prevent or respond quickly
to the attack.
“We have begged for protection. We have pleaded for help. The government
is watching our people die and doing nothing,” said a local pastor who asked to
remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.
Security forces reportedly pushed back an initial attempt to
overrun St. Joseph’s Church earlier in the week—but no reinforcements
remained when the actual massacre occurred.
This is part of a disturbing pattern:
- In many attacks, security
personnel are slow to respond—or don’t show up at all.
- Militants roam freely, armed and organized, while
Christians are unprotected.
- There have been no significant
arrests or convictions for previous mass killings in the region.
Aid to the Church
in Need (ACN) Calls for International Action
ACN, one of the first organizations to confirm the massacre, is urging
the international Christian community and governments worldwide
to speak up and take action.
“The death toll makes it the single worst atrocity in the region... There
is a concerted assault to force an entire Christian community out,” the ACN report declared.
The charity is providing emergency relief to survivors and is calling
for:
- International pressure on the
Nigerian government to protect Christians
- Humanitarian aid for displaced families
- Investigations into military and police
negligence
- Sanctions against known extremist groups
operating freely in Nigeria
Global Christian
Watchdogs Respond
Christian persecution watchdogs, including Open Doors, Voice of
the Martyrs, and Global Christian Relief, have condemned the
attacks.
Open Doors’ Statement:
“Jihadist violence continues to escalate in Nigeria. Christians are at
extreme risk from radical Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, and ISWAP. This atrocity
is only the latest symptom of a much larger crisis.”
They warn that under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Fulani
militants expanded their territory and influence due to lack of
accountability, weak law enforcement, and political bias.
What the Bible Says
About Persecution
Christians are no strangers to persecution. The Bible prepares believers
for suffering and martyrdom as part of the Christian journey.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” – John
15:18
Still, Scripture also calls the church to pray, speak out, and support
the persecuted:
“Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison,
and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” – Hebrews
13:3
How Can Christians
Respond?
1. Pray Fervently
- For comfort and healing for
victims and survivors
- For divine justice and protection
for persecuted believers
- For salvation for the attackers
2. Support Trusted Ministries
Organizations like Aid to the Church in Need, Barnabas Fund,
Open Doors, and Global Christian Relief provide food, shelter,
trauma counseling, and advocacy.
3. Raise Your Voice
- Share their stories
- Write to your local
representatives
- Demand diplomatic pressure on
Nigeria to end Christian-targeted violence
Global Christian
Community Must Not Remain Silent
This is not just a Nigerian issue—it is a global church crisis.
For every Christian killed, hundreds are left without homes, hope, or
security. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Their suffering
demands not only our empathy but our bold action.
As the church worldwide, we must proclaim that Christian lives matter,
and persecution must be exposed and ended.
Final Words
The Benue massacre is more than a tragedy. It is a wake-up call.
If the world turns away in silence, these atrocities will only grow. But
if the Body of Christ rises together in prayer, advocacy, and
compassion, we can bring light to the darkness.
Let this be the moment we remember the persecuted Church—and act.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
– John 1:5
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