BARKIN LADI, Nigeria — Fulani Muslim herdsmen along with Muslim soldiers have killed at least 45 ethnic Berom Christians in Plateau state in a week, Christians in this north-central Nigerian town said.
Smaller attacks beginning Nov. 20, reportedly over allegations by Fulani Muslims of cattle theft, preceded an attack on a Barkin Ladi church Nov. 23 that killed four Christians, and an assault the next day left 35 Christians dead in Barkin Ladi and nearby Kwok village, according to area Christian leaders.
Attendance at church services was decimated Nov. 27 as thousands of Christians have left the area. In the attack on Nov. 24, the Fulani Muslims were shouting “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is greater,” said farmer Choji Pamjamo, 51.
David Gyang, 51, an elder for the Church of Christ in Nigeria Barkin Ladi church, said Muslims set off a religious crisis by attacking Christians at the church site the night of Nov. 23 and then launching the major offensive the next morning. “Some of the Christian victims in this attack that I know include a Christian police officer, one Mr. Bulus, who is the station officer of the Barkin Ladi police station,” Gyang said.
“He was inside his house on that day, and these Muslims broke the walls of his room and went inside to kill him and his son.” Sources said that along with 26 Christians killed in Kwok village, nine were killed in the attack on Barkin Ladi.
The area attacks on Christians began Nov. 20 with the killing of three Christians outside Barkin Ladi, and then two Christians in the town were killed Nov. 21. The next day, a Christian was beheaded behind a popular hotel in the town known as the White House, sources said.
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