Source: www.worthynews.com
Date: September 4, 2024
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Fulani jihadist herdsmen in north-central Nigeria murdered 38 Christians in Agatu County, Benue State during August and July, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
More Christians are murdered in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined: 16,000 Nigerian Christians were murdered in the last four years alone.
In their most recent attack on Christians in Agatu County, Benue state, Fulani herdsmen raided the predominantly Christian villages of Iwari and Olegagbane on August 23, slaughtering six and injuring many more, MSN reports.
Confirming the surge of killings in his county, Phillip Ebenyakwu, chairman of the Agatu Local Government Area Council, said in a statement: “It’s true that there have been series of attacks on some of the communities in recent months by armed Fulani herdsmen. And during these attacks, many villagers were killed by the invaders who also set fire to houses. There are also currently over 2,000 villagers from the affected communities who are living in deplorable conditions in camps.”
In a 2024 website report about the chronic, appalling situation facing Christians in rural areas of northern and central Nigeria, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy states: “More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year, than everywhere else in the world combined. Violence by Islamic extremist groups such as Fulani militants, Boko Haram, and ISWAP (Islamic State in West African Province) increased during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, putting Nigeria at the epicenter of targeted violence against the church.”
Echoing the claims of Christian leaders on the ground, Open Doors adds: “The government’s failure to protect Christians and punish perpetrators has only strengthened the militants’ influence.”