by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - A church planter and his 3-year old son were murdered by Muslim Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria’s Niger state on May 21, International Christian Concern reports. Leviticus Makpa, 39, and his little boy Godsend are among the latest murder victims in a country which Gary L. Bauer of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom described in April as a “killing field” for Christians.
Pastor Makpa had founded a Christian school in a remote village called Kamberi, where education was lacking, ICC said. He also served as a pastor and church planter, ICC said. Prior to being shot to death at his home on May 21, Pastor Makpa had been repeatedly threatened by the Fulani militants because of his faith in Christ and missionary work.
In a tribute to him, close associate Samuel Solomon said Pastor Makpa had stayed on the mission field despite knowing the danger to Christians. “Fulani bandits came against [Christians], they hid in the cave to save their lives, and after they left, he went back to the field with his family; how many of us can do this?” Solomon said. “He eventually lost his life and that of his son; the wife and daughter escaped. He knew his life was at stake, but the burden for souls won’t let him run away from the field.”
“He established the only Christian school in the village and raised many souls,” Solomon said. “His blood will testify over the land and also against the insecurity of a corrupt Islamist government in Nigeria.” According to Solomon, the attacks were just the latest in an ongoing attempt to wipe out Christianity in Nigeria, ICC said.
Tens of thousands of Christians have been murdered by Islamic terrorists in Nigeria in recent years. The perpetrators include Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa, but a significant proportion of the ongoing slaughter of Christians is being carried out by Islamic extremist Fulani herdsmen. The current President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is himself Fulani, but has reportedly done very little to stop the violence committed by the herdsmen. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has warned of a “Christian genocide” if the Nigerian government does not do more to protect its Christian communities.