Nigeria: Seven Christians, Including a 12-Year-Old, Killed in Islamist Attack

Image: Jihad Watch

In Abuja, Nigeria, a deep sense of grief settled over Christian communities as hundreds gathered on Saturday (Nov. 8) to mourn the deaths of seven Christians, among them a 12-year-old boy, brutally killed during an attack in Kaduna State. On the same day, Islamic extremists launched another assault in Borno State, burning homes and destroying a church building, further heightening fears among already vulnerable Christian populations.

The funeral took place in Damakasuwa town, located in Kauru County in the southern region of Kaduna State. Residents described the scene as one of profound sorrow, with people travelling from surrounding areas to stand with the grieving families. The victims—killed on Oct. 31 in an attack attributed to Fulani herdsmen alongside other armed militants—were honoured amid prayers, hymns, and an atmosphere heavy with anguish.

“We have laid to rest seven of our beloved Christians who were killed by terrorists and Fulani herdsmen,” said local resident Daniel Dodo in a statement to Christian Daily International–Morning Star News. “This funeral is a painful reminder of the targeted violence we continue to face because of our Christian faith.”

The victims were identified as Yohanna Adamu (46), Bala Bude Chawai (57), Yakubu Bala (50), Abubakar Ya’u (30), Ishaya Dauda (56), Monday Nveneh (46), and Savior Emmanuel (12). Their deaths add to a long list of casualties in a region wracked by religiously motivated violence and insecurity.

The Fulani people, numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the broader Sahel, consist of numerous clans with diverse cultural backgrounds. While the vast majority do not support extremist ideologies, a segment of Fulani-linked militants have embraced radical Islamist doctrines. A 2020 report by the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG) notes that these radicalized elements have increasingly adopted tactics similar to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

According to the APPG, these groups exhibit “a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity,” underscoring the deliberate and systematic nature of the attacks.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)