A pregnant woman and ten-year-old girl are among 70 killed in another spate of attacks in Nigeria. With Easter approaching, Christians in Nigeria are even more vulnerable to attack. Please pray for their protection and for other believers worldwide as they mark Holy Week.
Around 70 people, including some Christians, have been killed in another spate of horrific attacks in Plateau State, Nigeria, with thousands more displaced.
Between the end of March and beginning of April, Fulani militants attacked at least seven communities in the local government associations of Bokkos and Bassa. Alongside those killed, a further six are missing and many others injured. Over 300 homes have been destroyed, leaving more than 3,000 people displaced.
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Amongst those killed are three Christian farmers, who were cultivating their land when they were attacked on 24 March. Three days later, the militants killed 11 Christians who had gathered for a funeral, including a pregnant woman and ten-year-old girl. On 2 April, at least five Christian women were killed as they gathered for fellowship.
The attacks in Bokkos come as Christian communities continue to recover from a series of attacks in 2023, including one on Christmas Eve in which around 200 believers were killed. A coordinated security response is in place to tackle the ongoing spate of attacks in affected communities.
“Our people are living in fear,” says Titus Ayuba Alams, who serves as a special adviser to the local authorities on workers’ welfare and corporate affairs. “Children no longer go to school; even worship in churches you can’t do it, because you are running for your life.”
Why are the attacks happening now?
The attacks come at the onset of the rainy season, which lasts until October. It’s a crucial time for subsistence farmers, who need to get crops in the ground in preparation for the dry season. Many of those attacked and now displaced rely on their farms for survival, and with many men amongst those killed, women and children have lost their breadwinner, leaving them especially vulnerable. Attacks like these are often tactical and targeted, aimed at crippling families and communities in the long-term. When Christian villages are attacked, it is often intended to fatally undermine and destroy the local church.
“Our people in living in fear”
Titus Ayuba Alams
Those displaced are now among the millions of Christians displaced by violence and conflict, not just in Nigeria but throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Many end up at displacement camps that are dangerously ill-equipped to care for people. Through the Arise Africa campaign, your gifts are lifeline to so many of our brothers and sisters, but the need remains acute.
“Let’s pray that the Lord will make provision, because we have four IDP [internally displaced person] camps: one in Bokkos, one in Gombe and two in Hurti. And in Bokkos, we have more than 2,000 IDPs. In Hurti, we have more than 4,000 and the same in Gonde,” says Reverend Arum, the CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) chairman of Bokkos lower government authority. “Let’s pray that the Lord will make provision, and the body of Christ will support the church through prayers and, if they can, support them financially.”
Petition and prayer
The Arise Africa campaign is not only about raising money and prayers – it’s also about raising your voice. If you haven’t already, please sign and share the petition. The aim is to take this to the UK government, United Nations, European Union and African Union, calling for protection, justice and restoration for our brothers and sisters affected by rising violence in sub-Saharan Africa – including those whose lives have been rocked by this latest spate of attacks.
And with Holy Week underway, please remember believers across the world as they mark Easter under the heightened risk of pressure and persecution. The attack on Christians in Bokkos during Christmas 2023 is a sobering reminder that Christian celebrations can be targeted by militant groups. Meanwhile, those who attend services can face hostility from their own communities and families. Please pray for God’s peace and presence to surround our persecuted family at this time.
