Eight Christians were kidnapped by Fulani Militants on Good Friday in Jos, Plateau State.
Four were released after paying a $2,800 ransom. A woman among them said that she was raped several times by two leaders of the Fulani Militants.
“The militant told us, after receiving the ransom money, that they got money to kill more Christians,” she said.
Such stories can be heard repeatedly in the surrounding Christian villages of Ariri, Kpachudu, La’ake as well as hundreds of others across Nigeria’s fertile Middle Belt.
After being shot in his right leg, David, a 38-year-old potato farmer, spent Easter Sunday laying in a rickety hospital bed in central Nigeria. The day prior, his village of Rikwechogu was attacked by men wielding AK-47s and machetes. While David survived, his brother, who had come to celebrate Easter with him, was killed, along with a Catholic priest.
Nigerian government officials deemed the attacks to have been perpetrated by “Unknown Gunmen” or so-called “Bandits”. But to locals, these men are very well known. They are Fulani Militants, who for years have been targeting Christian communities, burning their houses, and killing their family members.
Pastor Ibrahim, a Fulani Christian, was also killed by Fulani Militants on Saturday. “Fulani Terrorists killed Pastor Ibrahim Isah early this morning on 16 April at his house, immediately after attacking Kpachudu Village,” a local said. Ibrahim’s wife, now a widow, said that her husband was killed because he is a Christian. She also said Fulani militants stole 38 of their cows, destroyed their house and church, and are now after her life as well as the lives of her five children.
In the nearby State of Kaduna, Fulani Militants also attacked Kagoro village on Holy Saturday morning. The same village was attacked last month.
Source: International Christian Concern
Let us pray.
Pray for those in mourning, the traumatised, the injured and those who are fearful. Uphold them to the Lord and ask for strength and healing.
Pray for those who are responsible, that the Lord would frustrate their plans and restrain evil. Pray for deep conviction and genuine repentance.
Pray too for justice on behalf of those who have suffered great loss. Pray the violence and strife will end.