Two Christians have died after militants attacked a pair of villages in Adamawa State, Nigeria.
The villages of Gon and Bolkin are well-known for their Christian farming community and were specifically targeted by Islamic Fulani militants on the 12th May attack.
According to reports, the fighters raided the village in the early hours, destroying several homes and stealing supplies from the local farmers. In addition, one of the two men killed was involved in rebuilding a primary school that had been destroyed in a previous attack. Despite the best efforts of the local community, they have been unable to obtain military protection, with the local police insisting they had not received any calls about the attack.
Local outlets are reporting that a further eleven people were killed by Fulani militants in related attacks across the region.
A fact sheet put together by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) explains more about who the Fulani are and why they have become so lethal Christian communities across Nigeria:
"The Fulani militia (also known as Fulani herders) come from a nomadic, predominantly Muslim tribe. In 2014 the militia was named the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world by the Global Terrorism Index.
"Fulani militia are targeting non-Muslim communities, particularly Christians. They’re attacking entire communities that are most isolated and individuals at their most vulnerable, including men and women working in their fields. The death toll is mounting and it’s vital we speak out now."
In April of this year, Fulani militants killed nine people, including four children and a pregnant woman, in an attack on the small community of Hura, Plateau state. At least 33 homes were burned, with hundreds of locals displaced. Open Doors UK notes that followers of Jesus have been more susceptible to "opportunistic attacks by Islamic militants" during the coronavirus lockdown.
"Villagers were obeying local state directives to keep to their homes, to prevent the spread of the virus, and Christians believe that the attacks were part of a wider agenda to uproot them from the area," the watchdog noted in a recent report.
"While Christian communities stay inside to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus, they are even more vulnerable to these sorts of attacks, and less likely to be able to earn money for food."
