At Least 15 Christians Killed in Fresh Attacks in Nigeria’s Plateau State
At least 15 Christians were reportedly killed in a series of attacks across Barkin Ladi County in Nigeria’s Plateau State between September 21 and 25, according to community sources. The violence followed earlier attacks on September 20 that reportedly killed a church pastor and several others.
Solomon Mwantiri, a lawyer and community leader in Barkin Ladi, attributed the attacks to armed Fulani assailants and identified several affected locations, including Barkin Ladi town and the villages of Chit, Gassa, Bet, Rakwok, Razat and Rakung. The attacks reportedly targeted predominantly Christian communities.
Bethany Christian Academy, a Christian high school located on the outskirts of Barkin Ladi town, was also placed under threat during the violence. Mwantiri said a Christian was killed only a few meters from the school on September 23. He described the shooting as a serious security threat to the institution, which is affiliated with the Great Commission Movement, a global evangelical ministry focused on Christian outreach among university and college students.
According to Mwantiri, three Christians were killed in Gassa during an attack on September 25, when attackers reportedly targeted Chit, Gassa and Barkin Ladi. He also said that two other Christians were killed in Barkin Ladi town during the period of violence.
Rakwok village was among the other communities affected. Mwantiri said five Christian commuters were killed after their vehicle was ambushed in an incident in the area, which is also known as Kafi Abu. He added that three additional Christians were killed in the same community.
The attacks reportedly began on the night of September 21, when several predominantly Christian communities, including Rakwok, Bet, Razat, Gassa and Rakung, were targeted in coordinated assaults. Residents were reportedly attacked while they were sleeping. Among those killed was 22-year-old Henry Elisha from Rakwok, who was reportedly killed during the assault and buried the following day.
The latest violence has added to continuing concerns over insecurity in Plateau State, where rural communities have experienced repeated attacks and clashes involving armed groups and local populations. The accounts of the attacks and casualties have come primarily from community sources, while the circumstances and identities of those responsible remain subject to ongoing reporting and investigation.
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