by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Fulani herdsmen murdered 37 Christians in Nigeria’s Plateaus State during a spate of attacks carried out over the last five weeks, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Nigeria ranked number one in the world last year for the number of Christians killed because of their faith (5,014), according to the US Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization.
Ten Christians were killed on September 10 in a Fulani attack on Kulben village, Mangu County, Plateau State, MSN reports. “Armed Fulani herdsmen alongside terrorists attacked Kulben community, killing 10 Christians, and injured one other Christian villager,” Yitmwadi Raymond told Morning Star News in a text message.
On August 14, Christian teachers Rwang Danladi and his wife Sandra Danladi were slaughtered by Fulani militants during an attack on the BECO Comprehensive School in Riyom County, MSN reports. “They were in the school teaching their students when armed Fulani herdsmen shot and killed them,” local resident Jeremiah Nyam told MSN. “The vice principal of the school was also shot at and injured by the herdsmen.”
On August 10, terrorists raided the two predominantly Christian communities of Banyit and Rahogot near the Jos airport and murdered 21 Christians, MSN reports. “In the early hours at about 1 a.m., Aug. 10, in Banyit community of Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Christians came under attacks from Fulani herdsmen,” local resident Dalyop Ayuba said in a statement. “We were sleeping in our homes when armed Fulani herdsmen invaded our communities and shot at us. They killed 21 members of our two communities.”
On August 7, herdsmen and other terrorists killed four Christians In Mangu County’s Nchiya village, a predominantly Christian community, MSN reports.
Confirming the killings, the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA) noted the failure of authorities to avert the disaster. “The military failed to take urgent steps to repel the killer herdsmen until they succeeded in their dastardly act, which has left us to believe that they are not there to protect our unarmed people,” the MDA said in a statement. “The security agencies should by now know that we are the victims of terrorism by the Fulani militias.”
A day earlier, also in Mangu County, Fulani herdsmen killed Naje Baya Davwam on his farm in Binper Ruff village, Kombun District, a predominantly Christian community, and destroyed his crops, MSN reports. Area resident John Amos told MSN: “It’s disturbing that the siege of the Fulani herdsmen against Christian communities in Plateau state continues without abating.”