Rising Violence – Christian Death Toll Soars

Nigerian authorities dismissed clear warnings from a U.S. missionary, allowing Fulani herdsmen to slaughter 20 Christians in Middle Belt communities just before Christmas 2025.

Story Highlights

At least 20 Christians killed in coordinated attacks on farming and mining sites in Benue and Plateau states, despite advance alerts.
U.S. missionary Judd Saul warned of imminent violence in early December, but officials took no action.
Fulani herdsmen targeted young breadwinners, burning vehicles and abducting women, exposing gross government negligence.
Violence continues into 2026 with dozens more Christians killed and abducted, fueling a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Over 50,000 Christians slain historically in central Nigeria, demanding international accountability for persecuted believers.

Attacks Unfold Despite Warnings

Gunmen identified as Fulani herdsmen struck Christian communities in Guma County, Benue State, killing at least four residents in the days before December 22, 2025. Women faced abduction and torture, with one person still missing. These assaults followed a public warning from Judd Saul of Equipping the Persecuted Initiative, who alerted authorities in early December about planned Christmas-season attacks in Plateau and nearby areas. Nigerian security forces dismissed the intelligence, leaving vulnerable farming villages exposed. This negligence mirrors a pattern of inaction that endangers lives and erodes trust in government protection for minority Christians.

Deadly Strike on Plateau Miners

On December 16, 2025, assailants attacked a mining camp near Ratoso Village in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, murdering 12 young Christian miners. Attackers burned one vehicle and six motorcycles, devastating families reliant on these breadwinners. Eyewitnesses described English-speaking gunmen, with unverified claims suggesting possible military involvement. This marked the third major incident in Plateau that month, highlighting escalating threats to rural Christian workers. Such targeted violence disrupts livelihoods and instills pervasive fear, preventing normal community activities even during the holiday season.

Benue and Plateau attacks compounded to at least 20 deaths, as reports compiled on December 22 confirmed. Fulani militants, driven by resource disputes and possible Islamist motives, systematically hit Christian sites. Weak state presence in the Middle Belt amplifies vulnerabilities, where nomadic herdsmen clash with settled farmers over land and water. This ethno-religious persecution, ongoing since the 2000s, demands stronger federal response to safeguard innocent lives.

Ongoing Crisis in 2026

Violence surged into January 2026, with 35 Christians killed across Plateau, Benue, and Taraba states by Fulani herdsmen. On January 18, bandits abducted 163-175 Christians from three Kaduna churches, holding 167 captive as of January 20. Niger State’s January 3 massacre in Kasuwan-Daji claimed 30-40 lives. No arrests followed December 2025 incidents, perpetuating impunity. Advocacy groups like International Christian Concern and CSW Nigeria decry authority failures, urging enhanced security amid partial military gains.

20 Dead in Latest Attack on Nigerian Christian Community https://t.co/t3L7E8NZds #gatewaypundit via @gatewaypundit

— SpecialForcesEd 🇺🇸 ☧ ✝︎ (@sf_beretEd) March 8, 2026

February 2026 brought Kwara State attacks in Woro and Nuku, killing over 162, mostly Muslims but including Christians, as extremists lured victims to mosques. Vatican News reports continued sweeps, with 13 slain in a recent raid. Experts note over 7,000 Christians killed nationwide in 2025’s first 220 days, with persecution spreading southward. Historical toll exceeds 50,000 in central Nigeria, crippling economies through halted mining and farming while deepening displacement and instability.