by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Following the massacre of 160 mostly Christian civilians in Nigeria’s Plateau state at Christmas, radicalized Fulani herdsmen murdered at least 31 more Plateau Christians in coordinated attacks between Jan. 22-24, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Nigeria ranks first in the world for the number of Christians murdered on account of their faith; around 60,000 Christians have been killed since jihadist insurgents took root in Nigeria in 2009. As the Nigerian government and the international community allow the slaughter to continue unabated, rights groups have repeatedly warned of a genocide: the US International Commission on Religious Freedom has described Nigeria as a “killing field” for Christians.
On Jan. 24, Fulani herdsmen attacked predominantly Christian villages in Plateau’s Mangu County, MSN reports. “My village, Kwahaslalek, a Christian community, was attacked at about 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 January, by terrorists and herdsmen,” Hosea Ibrahim told MSN in a text message. “The invaders surrounded the village at about midnight, and they shot at anyone they sighted. Twenty-five Christians who were mostly women and children were killed during the attack.”
In a statement earlier this month about the ongoing slaughter of Christians in Plateau state, Sen. Diket Plang of Nigeria’s parliament said: “We need permanent solutions, not palliatives…I have raised a motion at the National Assembly towards ensuring that Plateau enjoys enduring peace…Instead of rushing to the military when bandits come, we should fence off entry points used by criminals…” Concerning the most recent killings, Plang said in a separate statement: “Justice must prevail, and those responsible for these atrocities must be held accountable for their actions.”
Committing atrocities reminiscent of ISIS and Hamas jihadist terrorist activity in the Middle East, the Fulani terrorists set fire to a number of their victims in the latest attacks. “A friend’s family, five members of his family, were killed and burnt beyond recognition in Mangu on Tuesday, 23 January,” a resident identified only as Murphy told MSN. “The wicked will never stop unless they have reasons to think twice before attacking. These are not random attacks, but well-coordinated to exterminate Christians.”