Nigeria: More Than 200 Christians Killed in Benue State

The families were staying in buildings converted into temporary housing in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, near Makurdi, when the assailants burst in, shouting "Allahu Akhbar," before killing people at will.

In a statement provided to Aid to the Church in Need, the clergy stated that, that evening, the police repelled the Fulani who were attempting to storm St. Joseph's Church, where 700 displaced people were sleeping. They then turned back to the displaced persons' lodging, setting fire to the doors, before opening fire in an area where more than 500 people were sleeping.

During the three-hour killing spree, at least 200 people were killed. This death toll makes this the worst atrocity ever committed in a region experiencing a sudden upsurge in attacks, amid signs that a concerted offensive by "bandits" is underway to force an entire community out of the area.

Church leaders are now working to assist a large number of people who had sought refuge in Yelewata, having survived the Fulani attacks and who have now fled the town to seek refuge in neighboring towns and villages.

The town's parish priest, Fr. Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee, recounted how he narrowly escaped death along with displaced people by throwing himself on the ground in the church presbytery at the first gunshots. He said: "When we heard the gunshots and saw the Fulani, we put our lives in God's hands. This morning, I thank God that I am alive."

Fr. Jonathan described his visit to the market square: "What I saw was truly horrific. People had been massacred. There were corpses scattered everywhere."

A report by the Foundation for Justice, Development and Peace (FJDP) stated: "It was a horror, a sight no one should ever see." It added: "Some were burned beyond recognition: infants, children, mothers, and fathers were slaughtered." Fr. Jonathan said some were so badly burned that it was difficult to identify them.

The priest explained that Yelewata had hosted thousands of displaced people from nearby villages because it was considered relatively safe, being located on the main road to Abuja. However, it was now largely deserted, with many people having sought refuge in the nearby towns of Daudu and Abagena.

Fr. Jonathan said he and others identified the attackers as Fulani and that the attack was carefully coordinated, with the militants accessing the town from several angles and taking advantage of the heavy rains to launch their assault. He said: "There is no doubt about the identity of the perpetrators. They were undoubtedly Fulani."

Fr. Jonathan also criticized the security forces, saying the police officers who prevented the militants from accessing the church were ill-equipped and were unable to prevent the attack on the nearby market.

Friday night's attack comes amid a surge in attacks in Benue State, particularly in the Makurdi region, which is over 95% Catholic. More than 100 people were killed in the Gwer West region of Makurdi Diocese in attacks that began three weeks ago and have displaced more than 5,000.

Church leaders have repeatedly called for international assistance, claiming that a jihadist militant plan is underway to seize land and ethnically cleanse the region to eliminate any Christian presence.