Published on November 29, 2023, 1:37 am

Image source: Fox News

A violent incident occurred in Nigeria last Friday, where at least ten Christians lost their lives due to an attack suspected to be conducted by Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists. This tragic event is part of the current breaking news scene from a Christian worldview. The assaults targeted multiple villages situated in Ussa County and the Yangtu Special Development Area near Takum, Taraba State.

Individuals returned from their farms were slain, while some others were killed within their homes. The affected villages include Ruwah, Nyicwu, Rubur Ribasi among others in Yangtu Special Development Area. The attackers have been described as “rampaging Muslim bandits” by local residents who reported the incident.

Peter Shamwun, a member of the Ussa Local Council, voiced his concerns regarding these relentless attacks perpetrated by Fulani bandits that have caused extraordinary hardship among area Christians. In addition to these strikes on communities, many Christians were even attacked while working on their respective farms. These incidents have fueled feelings of powerlessness against these terrorists.

Spokesman for Taraba State Police Command Usman Abdullahi confirmed the death toll of 10 on November 24th only but did clarify that it pertained to verified cases only until now. Fellows like Hope Hassan, Rimamsomtse Lamadi, Holiness Enoch are among the identified victims.

While certain reports claim that twenty Christians faced brutal end due to these recent turmoil in Ussa County and near Takum’s Yangtu Special Development Area; another local suggests approximately ten losses occurred exclusively at Takum and Ussa counties.

The Taraba Governor’s spokesman Emmanuel Bello noted with extreme shock and horror about these ghastly attacks on Yangtu-based individuals supposedly performed by unidentified gunmen which tragically took numerous lives.

Nigeria bore witness to most of the highest number of faith-related Christian fatalities world over last year. The nation also led globally with utmost instances of Christians being sexually harassed, forcibly married, kidnapped and mentally or physically abused along with numerous homes and businesses being attacked likewise due to faith-centric views.

The World Watch List report of 2023 claims that the country is one of the toughest nations for Christian residents as it rose from the seventh rank previously to the sixth this year. Militants belonging to groups like Fulani, Boko Haram among others routinely raid Christian communities leading to a string of murders, abductions for ransom, and sexual enslavement.

While Nigeria’s government continues in its denial regarding these assaults reaching the level of religious persecution, it has led to unchallenged attacks on Christians’ rights.

Fulani militia comprises various clans including many lineages that do not endorse extremist views. However, some clan members have succumbed to radical Islamist ideologies. There’s an evident intent observed by them in targeting potent Christian symbols as well as their followers according to an APPG report compiled in 2020.

Ultimately, this constant real news flow paints a picture that Nigerian christian leaders strongly believe these attacks on communities within Nigeria’s Middle Belt is driven by intent to annex Christian lands forcefully and impose Islam. This belief is primarily due towards desertification making herd sustenance challenging hence resorting towards such violent measures by these bandits.
Trusted news sources consider that providing even-handed news empowers both free-world inhabitants in lending help towards persecuted Christians worldwide and encourages these sufferers knowing they are not alone enduring such hardships.