ABUJA, Nigeria — More than 70 Christians were slain in Nigeria in eight days and officials in one state are calling for citizens to be armed to defend themselves.
Muslim Fulani herdsmen are suspected of the slayings in Benue State in the villages of Gbeji, Yelewata and Daudu between Oct. 12 and Oct. 20, according to Morning Star News. Benue officials say revenge for the alleged deaths of five Fulani may be the motive.
Speaking on behalf of Benue’s Gov. Samuel Ortom, secretary to the state government Anthony Ijohor said, “We are standing on our request for the federal government to give us a license for our volunteer guards to bear AK-47s and other sophisticated weapons. The security agencies have been overstretched and, that being the case, our people have to defend themselves.”
In Kebbi State, 11 high school girls remain captive 16 months after Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists abducted them from Federal Government Girls College. Five of the 11 captives are Christians. Morning Star reports that a total of 70 girls were abducted in June 2021 and 59 Muslim captives have been released since then.
Nigeria is No. 7 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian. (Morning Star News)
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