At least 13 Christians have been killed in a series of violent attacks in Nigeria’s Benue State, as armed Fulani militants continue a wave of deadly assaults on rural Christian communities, local leaders and residents have confirmed.
The most recent incident occurred in Otobi Akpa village in Otukpo County late on Monday night, when attackers entered the community and opened fire on residents as they slept in their homes. Four Christians were killed during the attack, while several others remain missing. The victims have been identified locally as Ochi Igbade, Eje Uzu, Alinko and Achibi.
Residents said the gunfire caused widespread panic throughout the village. Community members are now searching for missing neighbours amid fears that the death toll could rise.
Earlier in the month, further attacks struck other parts of the state. In Kwande County on 6 January, five Christian farmers were killed while working in their fields in Udeku Maav-Ya village. Local officials described the killings as part of a continuing pattern of violence that has left farming communities traumatised and displaced.
Another attack occurred on 5 January in Ikyaghev village, Guma County, where four members of the same Christian family were killed while tending their farmland. Local authorities said the assault took place in broad daylight and left the community in deep shock.
Violence has continued across the region. On 8 January, armed groups targeted farmers in Adogo village in Ukum County, destroying crops and forcing residents to flee their homes. Similar incidents were reported in December, including an attack on mourners attending a funeral in Owewe village, Okpokwu County, and raids on Christian villages in Ado Local Government Area. On 7 December, four Christians were killed in Logo County when attackers stormed Mbamondo Ukembergya village.
Community leaders describe the situation as a sustained campaign of terror against Christian populations. Many believe the attacks are driven by a combination of land disputes, religious extremism and the growing influence of jihadist groups operating across northern and central Nigeria.
International observers have repeatedly warned that parts of Nigeria have become among the most dangerous places in the world for Christians. According to the 2025 World Watch List published by Open Doors, Nigeria accounted for nearly 70 per cent of all Christians killed for their faith worldwide during the most recent reporting period. The report also notes the expansion of extremist networks, including factions linked to Boko Haram, ISWAP and newer militant groups operating in the region.
Despite the scale of the violence, many communities say they feel abandoned and unprotected, with farmers afraid to return to their fields and families fleeing ancestral lands that have sustained them for generations.
Adapted from Christian Daily International / Morning Star News.
