More than 170 Christians were killed across Nigeria during the Lenten season and Easter Sunday in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. The attacks occurred amid growing fears of state inaction and religious persecution targeting Christian farming communities.

In Benue state, at least 72 Christians were confirmed dead following a series of deadly attacks by suspected Fulani militants between April 18 and April 20. The assaults struck multiple villages in Ukum and Logo counties during the Holy Weekend, turning what should have been a time of solemn reflection and worship into a scene of terror.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, who visited the affected areas, described the massacre as “a calculated and strategic attack on innocent Christian farmers.”

“These were peaceful people observing their Holy Weekend,” he added. “The scale and timing of the violence is heartbreaking. We cannot continue like this.”

The death toll, which rose from 54 to 72 during the weekend, may still increase as security forces and local volunteers search for bodies in surrounding forests. Thousands have fled the area in fear, adding to the growing number of internally displaced Christians in the region.

These latest killings follow the Palm Sunday massacre in Plateau state, where more than 100 Christians were brutally killed and entire communities were razed. Fulani militants reportedly launched simultaneous raids on several villages, targeting Christian worshippers mid-service and forcing whole communities to flee their homes.

Both massacres form part of a disturbing pattern of religious violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Fulani militants and Islamic extremists frequently target Christian farmers. The attacks are often timed around Christian holy days, suggesting a deliberate campaign to intimidate and displace religious minorities.

 Source and photo: International Christian Concern