Plateau State: Over 50 Christians Killed in Nigeria
On April 14, Fulani herdsmen launched a deadly dawn attack on Zikke village in Kwall District, Bassa County, Plateau State, Nigeria, killing at least 51 people. The predominantly Christian community is the latest to suffer in a series of violent assaults that have claimed over 60 Christian lives earlier this month. Area resident Blessing Yakubu confirmed the attack, highlighting growing concerns over ongoing violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and the lack of effective government response to protect vulnerable communities.
A Morning of Horror in Zikke Village
The early morning calm in Zikke, a predominantly Christian village in Bassa County’s Kwall District, was shattered when armed Fulani herdsmen stormed the area with deadly force. Local resident Blessing Yakubu shared via text that over 40 people were killed initially, with Channels TV later confirming the death toll had risen to 51.
“Lives have been lost and properties destroyed through this early morning attack,” Yakubu reported.
This tragedy comes on the heels of another horrifying incident just days earlier. On April 11, three members of a Christian family—a father and two sons—were brutally murdered in Zogu village, also in Bassa. The victims were identified as Weyi Gebeh, 56, and his sons Zhu, 25, and Henry, 16.
A Pattern of Violence Against Christians
The April 14 massacre is not an isolated event. Just last week, on the night of April 8, three Christian villages in Bassa were targeted in coordinated attacks. Two more people were killed, and residents of Twin Hill narrowly escaped with their lives.
Community leader Joseph Chudu Yonkpa described the events in a public statement, saying, “These Fulani marauders carried out devastating ambushes in three locations.” He added that residents are dismayed by the continued silence of state authorities and the lack of arrests or action against the perpetrators.
“What exactly do the Fulanis want?” asked David Yakubu, another local resident. “We had barely finished weeping for Christians killed in Bokkos, and now it's Christians in Bassa being slaughtered.”
Religious Targeting and Government Inaction
While not all Fulani herdsmen are extremists, some groups have adopted radical Islamist ideologies and are deliberately targeting Christian communities, according to reports from the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief.
These attacks often follow a brutal pattern: villages are stormed at night, residents killed, and survivors left homeless. Christian leaders argue that the violence is more than a land conflict—it’s an attempt to displace Christian populations and impose Islam in areas previously dominated by Christianity.
The Nigerian government has been widely criticized for failing to act. Many local leaders are calling for immediate intervention, greater protection, and the prosecution of those responsible for the killings.
Nigeria Among the Deadliest Countries for Christians
According to the 2025 World Watch List by Open Doors, Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous places on earth for Christians. Of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide for their faith in the past year, 3,100 were in Nigeria—a staggering 69%.
The violence isn’t limited to Fulani attacks. The region also faces threats from Boko Haram, ISWAP, and a new terror group known as Lakurawa, affiliated with Al-Qaeda’s expansion in West Africa. These groups operate with heavy weaponry, carrying out raids, kidnappings, and sexual violence with alarming frequency.
Despite the bloodshed, Nigeria only ranks seventh on the list—suggesting just how widespread Christian persecution has become globally.
What Can Be Done?
As violence escalates, so does the urgency for action. Local communities are demanding security, accountability, and justice. International bodies, churches, and human rights groups must raise awareness and pressure the Nigerian government to address this crisis.
If you’re reading this, you can help by:
✅ Sharing this article to raise awareness
🙏 Praying for the affected communities
💬 Contacting your representatives to urge action on international religious freedom
💵 Supporting ICR Canada partners working on the ground in Nigeria
“We are deeply concerned about the silence of state actors... our attackers have not shown any sign to stop their atrocities in our land.”
— Joseph Chudu Yonkpa, Community Leader
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