by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Fulani Islamic herdsmen are continuing a protracted, exceedingly brutal, violent campaign to clear rural areas in Nigeria’s Benue state of Christians, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Fulani herdsmen killed three Christians between April 18-20, MSN reports. One Christians was murdered in Otukpo County’s Entepka village on April 20, and two were killed in the Entepka District’s Adoka-Icho community on April 18. In a statement to MSN, Otukpo Local Government Council Chairman Alfred Omakwu said: “The two were ambushed and shot by the herdsmen.”
A month earlier, suspected Fulani herdsmen killed three Christians in attacks on Onipi village on Mar. 19 and on Okakpoga village on Mar. 12, Omakwu added. In all, herdsmen attacked nine predominantly Christian villages in Entekpa District.
Calling for urgent government action, Andrew Mamedu of the Action Aid international humanitarian organization said in an Apr. 20 press statement in Abuja that the relentless attacks on Christian communities in Benue have displaced about 1.4 million people.
“With what is happening in Benue state, people may not have villages to retire to when they grow old,” Mamedu said. “There is also the loss of culture that comes with it. If we fail to act now, I am afraid that by 2030 we will have lost a generation, and it may take up to about 50 years to recover from it.”
“Families have been torn apart, homes destroyed and futures shattered,” Mamedu said. “The trauma and suffering endured by those affected are profound and long lasting, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable peace building and conflict resolution efforts.”
Ruled by an Islamic government that has done almost nothing to protect its Christian citizens from nearly two decades of deadly violence by Islamic terrorists, Nigeria ranks six on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
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