by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Radicalized Fulani herdsmen and other Islamic militants are continuing their reign of terror in Nigeria, slaughtering a pastor and his two sons, and six other Christians in Plateau state in recent weeks, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
On March 26, armed men broke into the home of Micah Gochin, a member of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in North Jos, and killed him. They then kidnapped his son. In a message to Morning Star News, which reports exclusively on Christian persecution worldwide, Michah’s daughter Beyitmwa Gochin said: “My family home was invaded and attacked by armed men we believe are terrorists and herdsmen.” The loss of her father was “devastating,” Beyitmwa said.
On March 5, in Ganawuri town west of Jos, Fulani herdsmen broke into the home of COCIN Pastor Musa Hyok in the middle of the night, and murdered him and his two sons, local resident Swachet Titus told Morning Star News.“A sad incident occurred here at Ganawuri on Sunday, 5 March, as our pastor, the Rev. Musa Hyok, and his two sons, Emmanuel Musa and Mang Musa, were killed by Fulani herdsmen and terrorists,” Swachet said. “They were attacked at midnight in their house within the premises of the COCIN church.”
On February 5, Fulani herdsmen murdered five Christians in the predominantly Christian communities in Bokkos County, a local resident told Morning Star News. While tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered with impunity since 2015, Alfred Alabo of the Plateau State Police Command said in a press statement about the February murders: “We are on their trail to get the bandits arrested and prosecuted.”
Nigeria ranks 6th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous for Christians.