By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
ABUJA (Worthy News) – Evangelical Christians in Nigeria’s northwestern Kaduna state were grieving Wednesday after mainly Muslim Fulani herdsmen reportedly killed five believers and injured three others during a church gathering.
Friday’s attack occurred in Kajuru County, where “Fulani bandits” raided an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Bible study and prayer service in Kampani village, Christians said.
The victims were identified as Victor Haruna, Dogara Jatau, Luka Yari, Jesse Dalami, and Bawu John.
Resident Philip Adams identified those wounded as Samuel Aliyu, Philip Dominic, and Jacob Hussaini. Residents said the attack at the church site took place at about 3:30 p.m.
“This is the present predicament of most communities within Kajuru and Kachia Local Council Areas in the southern part of Kaduna state,” resident Happiness Daniel told the Christian Daily International-Morning Star News services. “We constantly live in fear every day. We can’t sleep in our homes, and we can’t go to farms.”
Kajuru County has been the site of at least 110 kidnappings from the predominantly Christian villages of Bauda, Unguwan Yashi, Unguwan Mulki, Makyali, Ungwan Mudi Doka, and Unguwar Rogo in the first six months of this year, residents said.
Many have not yet returned, according to residents. News about the latest deadly violence came after, earlier this month, up to 80 Christians were killed and many others injured in north-central Nigeria as suspected Muslim “bandits” ambushed vigilantes in charge of protecting residents, Christians, and other sources said.
BANDITS HIDEOUTS
Most were killed in the Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State while vigilantes were on their way to “ identify bandits’ hideouts,” said Aliyu Baffa, who leads a vigilante group in the region.
Nigeria is among the most violent places on earth for Christians, according to the advocacy group Open Doors.
The group has ranked Nigeria 7th on its annual World Watch List (WWL) of 50 nations where it is reportedly most difficult to be a Christian.
Of the 4,476 Christians killed for their faith worldwide during the reporting period, 3,100 (69 percent) were in Nigeria, explained the 2025 WWL report.
Christian leaders in Nigeria said Fulani herdsmen attack Christian communities inspired by their desire to take over Christians’ lands and impose Islam forcefully.
Desertification has made it more difficult for them to sustain their herds.
However, the violence, backed by Islamic extremists, has spread to southern Nigerian states, Christian said. Additionally, “a new jihadist terror group, Lakurawa, has emerged in the northwest,” armed with advanced weaponry and a radical Islamist agenda, backed by groups in Mali, the WWL noted.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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