Escalating Violence Against Christians in Nigeria During Religious Festivals
Recent reports highlight a disturbing trend in Nigeria, where anti-Christian violence is on the rise, particularly during significant religious periods. This year, over 170 Christians lost their lives in attacks coinciding with the Lenten and Easter celebrations, raising alarms about the increasing frequency of such massacres during religious festivals.
A particularly violent episode occurred over the Easter weekend, between April 18th and 20th, in Benue State. During this period, 72 Christians were killed in a series of assaults attributed to nomadic Fulani militants. These attacks targeted multiple villages within the Ukum and Logo counties.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, speaking to International Christian Concern, characterized these incidents as “a calculated and strategic attack on innocent Christian farmers.” She expressed deep sorrow, stating, “These were peaceful people observing their Holy Weekend. The scale and timing of the violence is heartbreaking. We cannot continue like this.”
The attacks have led to chaos, with many fleeing the violence. The whereabouts of numerous individuals remain unknown, raising concerns about whether they have become internally displaced or were victims in remote rural areas.
Earlier, on Palm Sunday, similar brutalities were reported in Plateau State, where militants attacked several villages, resulting in the deaths of over 100 Christians.
There is a growing concern about the apparent impunity with which these militants operate, as security forces often do not intervene to protect citizens effectively.
In a related development, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi region addressed the British House of Lords, highlighting that a massacre in December 2024 could have been prevented had security forces acted on advance warnings. Despite the intelligence, security services were absent when the attacks occurred, culminating in the death of hundreds of Christians, including 47 individuals in a single incident.
Bishop Anagbe stressed the need for international intervention, urging the British government to consider Nigeria’s treatment of internally displaced persons when forming diplomatic and economic policies. He warned that massacres of Christians were becoming distressingly “customary” during Christmas in certain regions of Nigeria.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
