Originally published in Christian Today
Reports of Christians attacked in central and northern Nigeria receive more attention, but in more southerly Benue state Islamic extremists killed at least 205 Christians in the last six months alone, sources said.
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According to a story by Morning Star News, in the southeastern part of Nigeria’s middle belt, Benue State’s Agatu Local Government Area saw deadly attacks on Christian farmers by Muslim, ethnic Fulani herdsmen from May through November. About 10,000 people were displaced, Christian leaders said.
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As in attacks in Plateau state, several of the perpetrators appeared to be mercenaries from outside the area rather than herdsmen, and locals questioned how the Fulani became so heavily armed.
In some of the attacks a herdsmen spokesman alleged stolen cattle as the reason for the bloodshed, but Morning Star News said the Nigerian press has frequently claimed that motives for the attacks were unknown.
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Christian leaders, however, said they had no doubt the Muslim assailants aimed to demoralize and destroy Christians.
“These attacks on Christian members of our churches have disrupted church activities, as Christians can no longer worship together in their congregations,” Reverend David Bello, bishop of the Anglican diocese of Otukpo, told Morning Star News.
Rev. Michael Apochi, Roman Catholic bishop of Otukpo Diocese, added that attacks by Muslim Fulani gunmen have devastated Christian communities.
“Life has become unbearable for our church members who have survived these attacks, and they are making worship services impossible,” Apochi told Morning Star News by phone.
The two Christian leaders called on the Nigerian government to urgently take measures to curb unprovoked attacks on Christians in rural areas of the state.
In the early hours of November 9, Muslim Fulani gunmen killed 25 Christians in seven villages, said area Christian leader Sule Audu.
“Seven Christian communities were completely ravaged by the rampaging Muslim Fulani gunmen,” Audu told Morning Star News.
He added, “The previous Thursday, November 8, two Christian communities of Ikpele and Okpopolo were attacked by the Muslim Fulani herdsmen in a raid that resulted in the killing of three persons, injuring many others, and the displacement of about 6,000 Christians.”
The attacked villages were Ello, Okpagabi, Ogwule-Ankpa, Ogbangede, Ekwo, Enogaje and Okpanchenyi, he said.
Another area Christian leader from Agatu, John Ngbede, confirmed the attacks.
“It is true that Agatu is under attack by Muslim Fulani herdsmen at the moment,” he told Morning Star News.
He added, “Many of our Christian brethren have been killed. The Muslim gunmen that are attacking our Christian communities are numerous; they are so many that we can’t count them. They are spread across all the communities and unleashing terror on our people without any security resistance.”
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Luke 6:27-36
[27] “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. [31] Do to others as you would have them do to you.
[32] “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.