Nigerian violence in May and June leaves more than 340 dead

ABUJA, Nigeria — More than 340 Nigerians in the country’s Nasarawa and Plateau states have been killed in weeks of violent clashes.

Muslim Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists are suspected in the May and June attacks, reports Morning Star News.

Herdsmen descended upon the predominantly Christian villages of Takalafiya and Gwanja in Nasarawa state May 11–12 and killed 43 people. A survivor said two of the dead are Daniel Danbeki, pastor of Evangelical Church Winning All, and his wife.

One news outlet says the attack was retaliatory after a farmer killed a herdsman in self-defense.

In Nigeria’s Plateau state, about 300 Christians in approximately 20 villages of Mangu County have been killed since mid-May. Then on June 4, Shadrack Ayuba, pastor of an Assemblies of God, Nigeria, church in Ntin Kombun village and Mangmwos Tangshak Daniel, pastor of Nigeria Baptist Convention in Kantoma village, were slain, another pastor told Morning Star.

Nigeria is No. 6 on Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian. Nigeria has led the world in the number of Christians killed for their faith, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, physically or mentally abused or forcibly married.