Seventy Christians Have Been Recently Been Murdered in Plateau State

About Seventy Christians have been recently been murdered in Plateau State, Nigeria, including one pastor. The body count was said to have piled up after at least a half dozen attacks allegedly perpetrated by cattle herders. Herders frequently terrorize Christian farmers in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, among others. The herdsmen regularly raid Christian villages opening up a hail of gunfire, burning homes and churches, and shooting their victims when they run outside to escape the fires.

“The jihadists, in their quest to eliminate Christians in Plateau State and their thirst for blood, have succeeded in killing Christians and burning their houses,” - said Gyang, a local man whose full name is withheld to protect his safety, Vanguard reports The most deadly attack occurred on Saturday, May 2, 2015 when herdsmen reportedly set fire to the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) located in Foron Town, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA), killing 27 Christians. The victims included Reverend Luka Gwom and a lady named Pauline who was married just two weeks prior in the same church building. These recent raids have all occurred in two areas of Plateau State: namely Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas. These frightening experiences have become nearly a weekly terror for Christians in the region. From April 25 to May 11, Gyang reported at least six attacks on more than eight villages, some of them targeted more than once during that time span.