This week, the Fulani herdsmen killed at least nine Christians in Nigeria’s Plateau state, following the massacre 27 days ago, sources said.
The attacks took place in Boccos County, primarily in the Christian communities of Hokk, Pangkap, Fokoldep, Kopmur, Margif, Horop, Mbor, Mushree and Kwahas, residents said.
Local resident Emmanuel Ohto said nine Christians were killed in the Muchele area of Boccos County on Sunday and Monday (June 1).
“Boccos is so uneasy and this hasn’t been so uneasy as Christians are being slaughtered as we are witnessing now,” Autota told Christian Daily International Morning Star News. “Two Christians were killed on Sunday, June 1st, and seven more Christians were killed on Monday, June 2nd.
Another resident, Lillian Madaki, said the herdsmen had attacked a village in Boccos County a few days ago.
“For six days, Fulanis has been attacking our community, a predominantly Christian village,” Madaki said in a text message. “Among the Christian victims I know of is a 14-year-old Christian teenager who was shot dead and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital.”
A resident of Ishaya, a resident, added that herdsmen attacked Mbor, Margif and Mijing on May 27th.
On Monday night (June 2), the herdsmen were invading Christian villages, primarily Hokki, Pankak and Fokordep, and were still filming when local resident Jakub Kefas alerted the Christian Daily International Morning Star News on Tuesday (June 3).
“Christians are currently undergoing heavy shootings from elements of Fulani terrorists in the Christian community of Hokki, Pancup and Fokordep.
The attack began around 11pm the night before, he said.
“Attackers we believe are Fulani terrorists have committed indiscriminate shootings, killings and massive arson, resulting in widespread fear, Christian victims and destruction of property,” Kefas said.
Residents reported the invitation and murder of Rev. Miman Lekill, a 70-year-old pastor at Christian Church, on May 27.
Masala Kim, a Christian journalist in the area, said 11 other Christians from the area were killed on May 25th.
“The full name of the murdered clergyman is Pastor Miman Rekill. He was the pastor responsible for Kosin Kwaha, Kawell of Mushere,” Kim told Christian Daily International Morning Star News. “It was a case of a temptation. The pastor’s wife broke her leg during the incident. Eleven other Christians were also killed in Boccos on Sunday, May 25th.
Regional resident Nanlop Joy said the herdsmen killed eight Christians in the village of Kopumur, and seven more in the Mbor community.
“These are all Christian villages,” Joy said.
Police are deployed along with military personnel in affected communities, officials said.
“The Plateau State Police Command will face justice as Plateau State Police Command will not leave any inverted stones in the bid to ensure that the perpetrators face the law,” said Emmanuel Adesina, spokesman for the command in a statement issued in Joss.
With millions of figures in Nigeria and Sahel, Fulani, primarily Muslim, constitute hundreds of clans of many different lines that do not hold the views of extremists, while some Fulani adhere to radical Islamist ideology, all party parliamentary groups (Appgs) in the UK for international freedom or beliefs.
“They are clearly intent to adopt a comparable strategy for Boko Haram and Iswap and target strong symbols of Christian and Christian identity,” the AppG report said.
Nigerian Christian leaders say they believe herdsmen’s attacks on the Christian community in the mid-zone of Nigeria are inspired by the desire to forcefully take over Islam as it forced Christian lands and made desertification difficult to maintain the flock.
According to Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, Nigeria has remained one of the most dangerous places for Christians. According to WWL, of the 4,476 Christians killed for faith around the world during the reporting period, 3,100 (69%) were in Nigeria.
“The scale of anti-Christian violence in this country is already at the highest possible level under the global watch list methodology,” the report states.
In the north-central zone of the country, where Christians are more common than they are in the northeast and northwest, Islamic extremist Fulani militias attack farm communities, killing hundreds of Christians and, above all, hundreds of Christians. Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State (ISWAP) of West African states are also active in northern states in the country where federal control is poor and Christians and their communities continue to be targeted for attacks, sexual violence and the killing of disability. Ransom aid has been increasing significantly in recent years.
The violence spreads across southern states, with new jihadist terrorist group Lakrawa appearing in the northwest, armed with sophisticated weapons and an extremist agenda, WWL noted. Lakrawa is affiliated with the expansionist al-Qaeda rebellion Jamaa Nusrat ul Islam Wa al-Muslimin, or Zinim, which is derived from Mali.
Nigeria ranked 7th in the 2025 WWL list of 50 worst countries for Christians.
