At least 51 people were killed and dozens wounded in new attacks by suspected Islamist militants on Christian communities in Plateau State, in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, during the early hours of 14 April.
More than 100 armed men invaded the villages of Zike and Kimakpa in the Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) at around 1am, shooting and setting fire to homes.
The latest attacks in Plateau State come less than two weeks after scores of people were killed in Bokkos LGA on 2 April. The death toll from the assaults on Hurti, Josho and Daffo communities was initially put at 40, but later rose to 52.
A pastor leads the prayers at the mass burial of the 51 victims of the 14 April attacks
Bassa community leader Wakili Tongwe was in a neighbouring village when the latest attacks began and heard the first rounds of gunfire. “By the time we got back, 36 were already dead,” he said. “Some died later from their wounds.”
He joined residents in calling on the government for communities to be given greater protection by the army.
“We are tired of burying our people every other week,” said Tongwe. “The government must do more than deploy troops after the damage is done.”
Plateau State governor Caleb Mutfwang has repeatedly called the attacks “organised and genocidal”.
“There is no other explanation,” he said in a recent interview. “Entire communities have been taken over, renamed and occupied by the assailants.”
An estimated 45,000 Christians across northern and Middle Belt Nigeria have been killed in Islamist violence since 2009.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in Middle Belt, Nigeria, where anti-Christian violence is so commonplace that they grow weary of burying their dead. Pray that their resolve to grow in the faith will be strengthened even as they mourn and rebuild. Ask that they will be comforted knowing that they will be reunited with their loved ones again and live with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Pray for protection for Christian communities.
