For information about Orthodox Christianity in Nigeria, see here.
For previous coverage of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria from ChristianPersecution.com, see here.
“Dozens More Christians Killed in Benue State, Nigeria,” Morning Star News, September 27, 2022:
ABUJA, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Continuing attacks earlier this month in Benue state, Nigeria, suspected Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed dozens of Christians on Friday (Sept. 23) and Wednesday (Sept. 21), sources said.
The terrorists attacked six predominantly Christian villages in Benue state’s Togo County on Friday (Sept. 23), destroying lives, houses and farms and looting homes for food, area residents said….
An area community leader, Joseph Anawa, confirmed that the six villages had been attacked on Friday. The Rev. Akpen Leva, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State Chapter, said in a press statemen [sic] that attacks against Christians and by herdsmen and other terrorists in the state have been ceaseless.
“Armed herdsmen and terrorists have not stopped their unprovoked attacks on Christians in Benue state,” Leva said. “These attacks are aimed at killing defenseless Christians and to force them out of their communities.”…
In the same county on Wednesday (Sept. 21), suspected herdsmen and other terrorists killed 15 Christians and wounded 15 others in attacks on two villages, area residents said.
Predominantly Christian Mou and Mchia villages were attacked at about midnight. Fulani herdsmen, who are predominantly Muslim, killed 12 Christians in Mchia village, said area resident Peter Terseer.
“Aside from the 12 Christians who lost their lives in Mchia village, eight other Christians were injured during the attack,” Terseer told Morning Star News in a text message. “They’re being treated at the Anyiin hospital.”
In Mou village, resident James Akiga said three Christians died and seven were wounded in the attack by a “band of terrorists and herders.”
“The victims have gunshot wounds and machete cuts,” Akiga said in a text message to Morning Star News….
Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith last year (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021) at 4,650, up from 3,530 the previous year, according to Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List report. The number of kidnapped Christians was also highest in Nigeria, at more than 2,500, up from 990 the previous year, according to the WWL report.
Nigeria trailed only China in the number of churches attacked, with 470 cases, according to the report.
In the 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 9 the previous year.
