Jihadists Massacre Hundreds Of Christians In Nigeria

In one of the deadliest attacks on Christians in recent years, jihadist militants slaughtered around 200 Christians last week in Nigeria’s Benue State. The massacre, carried out by Fulani herdsmen, targeted the predominantly Catholic farming community of Yelwata, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and heartbreak.

The attackers struck last Friday and Saturday, storming into Yelwata, setting fire to homes, and indiscriminately killing women, children, and displaced families who had previously sought refuge from earlier jihadist assaults. Eyewitnesses reported the militants surrounded the town while shouting “Allahu Akbar,” turning the community into a slaughterhouse.

“We’re still finding bodies in the bushes,” said Mton Matthias, a local youth leader. “The death toll is rising every hour.”

The Fulani militants even attempted to storm St. Joseph’s Church in Yelwata, where many displaced Christians were sheltering. Thanks to the intervention of local police, the church was spared. But outside the church walls, the attackers unleashed unimaginable violence, burning buildings and massacring innocent civilians.

Pope Leo addressed the tragedy during Sunday’s Angelus prayer, calling it a “terrible massacre.” He noted that many of the victims were internally displaced persons being cared for by the Catholic mission. “I pray that security, justice, and peace will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so affected by various forms of violence,” the pope said.

This horrific massacre highlights a long-running campaign of terror against Nigeria’s Christian communities, particularly in Benue State. According to Church in Need, this is now the deadliest atrocity against Christians in the country in recent years. Fulani herdsmen, a Muslim militant group, have consistently targeted farming communities, forcing Christian families off their land and murdering anyone who stands in their way.

Key facts on the crisis:

• Between 2023 and 2025, over 1,000 people have been killed in Benue State as jihadist militias clash with farmers and Nigerian security forces.

• Many of the victims are women, children, and internally displaced Christians fleeing previous attacks.

• Fulani militants continue these assaults largely unchecked, raising serious concerns about government complicity.

According to Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula, director of the Justice, Peace and Development Foundation, the violence is not random but part of a coordinated plan to ethnically cleanse Christian communities. “These Fulani militias are not just killing they’re clearing land to claim it,” he said. “And they’re being allowed to do it.”

The Nigerian government, which is led by Muslim officials, has faced mounting criticism for its failure to protect Christian citizens. Many believe government officials are either unwilling or complicit in allowing these attacks to continue. “The credible evidence of who [the attackers] are is undeniable, so why is the government helpless in securing the safety of its citizens?” asked Father Moses Aondover Iorapuu, a parish priest in Makurdi.

While the world’s media remains largely silent, these Christian communities continue to suffer under an ongoing jihadist war that receives little attention from international leaders or human rights organizations. It is yet another tragic example of the global community ignoring targeted Christian persecution while Western governments, including the Biden administration, remain fixated on protecting political narratives rather than innocent lives.

This barbaric slaughter serves as a stark reminder of what happens when weak leadership and indifference allow evil to flourish unchecked.

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