Nigeria: Eight Christians Killed, 15 Injured in Attack on Christian Farming Community by Muslim Assailants

Nigerian mourners, International Christian Concern | Jihad Watch

Suspected Fulani gunmen launched an attack on a Christian farming community in central Nigeria’s Plateau State on Sunday evening, leaving eight Christians dead and at least 15 others injured, according to local residents and government officials.

The assault took place in Gwomjang, a predominantly Christian village located in Kadunu Ward of Mangu Local Government Area, near Gindiri in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. The area has long been affected by recurring violence, including attacks on rural communities, land-related disputes, and increasing insecurity that has disrupted the lives of farmers and civilians.

Residents reported that the attackers entered the village around 7:30 p.m. on May 31, shortly after church services and a women’s prayer gathering had concluded. Many villagers were returning home when gunfire suddenly broke out.

Dung Ezekiel Sunday, Gwomjang’s youth leader and an eyewitness, recounted the events, saying that worshippers had just finished their activities and were heading home as darkness fell when shots rang out across the community.

Community leaders stated that the gunmen indiscriminately opened fire on civilians before escaping. The victims included four men and four women, while the injured suffered gunshot wounds and other serious injuries. Those wounded were taken to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment.

“The entire community was thrown into confusion,” Ezekiel said, adding that residents believed the attackers were Fulani men. He noted that the community had previously enjoyed peaceful relations with neighboring groups for many years.

According to residents, the assailants approached the village from a nearby settlement and retreated along the same route after carrying out the attack. Villagers immediately alerted soldiers stationed in the area, but witnesses said security personnel did not arrive until approximately 10 p.m., by which time the attackers had already fled.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)