Pastor, Worshipper Gunned Down in Northwest Nigeria

On the evening of Monday, July 7, suspected Islamic extremists attacked an evening worship service in Katsina State, northwest Nigeria, killing two Christians and abducting a woman.

Around 15 to 20 armed men, reportedly speaking with Fulani accents, stormed Bege Baptist Church in Yaribori (Yari Bori) village, Kafur County, and fatally shot Pastor Emmanuel Na’allah Auta and a congregant, Mallam Samaila Gidan Taro, according to TruthNigeria.

Eyewitness Zakariya Jatau confirmed to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that the pastor was leading a Bible study session when the attackers opened fire. A female member of the church was also kidnapped during the assault and taken to an undisclosed location.

Gidan Taro was identified as a notable convert from Islam, while Pastor Auta was known for his efforts in promoting peace between the Muslim and Christian communities in the area.

Continued Killings in Plateau State

In Plateau State, central Nigeria, Fulani herdsmen have continued a wave of violent attacks on Christian communities. Since May, at least 80 Christians have been killed across multiple villages in Bokkos County, and 20 more lost their lives in June in other areas.

In Mangu County, herdsmen killed two Christians and burned 96 homes in the village of Gyambwas on June 27. Esther Luka, a local resident, reported that her friend’s father, Rose Dapus, was killed while working on his farm. Dapus had just dismissed farmhands when the attack occurred; his son narrowly escaped.

Other deadly attacks were reported in:

• Manja village (June 19): Three Christians killed on their farms and over 20 houses burned.

• Chicim village (June 11): Eight Christians gunned down.

• Bwai village (June 10): Seven Christians murdered.

In Bokkos County, at least 13 predominantly Christian villages were targeted since May, with villages such as Tulus, Hokk, and Juwan attacked as recently as June 29. A pastor’s home was among the properties destroyed.

Amalau Samuel, head of the Bokkos Local Government Council, condemned the attacks as “barbaric and inhuman.” He noted that the killers often struck at night, breaking into homes, targeting children and the elderly who couldn’t flee.

Local sources say the assailants operate from camps in areas like Daffo, Mbar, Tangur, Pyakmallu, Butura, and Kwatas — locations known to Nigerian military and intelligence agencies.

Root Causes and Escalation

While the Fulani are a large and diverse ethnic group across Nigeria and the Sahel, many of whom are peaceful, a radicalized faction within them has been blamed for these attacks. According to a 2020 report by the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG), some Fulani militants employ tactics similar to Boko Haram and ISWAP, intentionally targeting Christians and churches.

Christian leaders argue that these violent raids are driven by a combination of religious extremism and a struggle over land, worsened by desertification. They accuse the attackers of trying to displace Christian farming communities to assert Islamic dominance.

Nigeria’s Growing Hostility Toward Christians

Nigeria remains one of the world’s most perilous countries for Christians. Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List ranks Nigeria seventh among the 50 worst nations for Christian persecution. Of the 4,476 Christians murdered worldwide for their faith during the latest reporting period, 3,100—nearly 70%—were in Nigeria.

The report highlights that anti-Christian violence in Nigeria has reached its highest possible level under their monitoring criteria. The North-Central zone, where Christianity is more prevalent, has witnessed mass killings, forced displacements, and widespread destruction.

Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and a newer extremist faction known as Lakurawa—affiliated with Mali-based Al-Qaeda insurgents JNIM—have extended their reach, escalating violence into Nigeria’s southern states. Lakurawa militants are reportedly well-armed and driven by an aggressive Islamist ideology.

Despite the presence of military forces, residents say government control remains weak in many northern areas, leaving Christian communities vulnerable to further attacks, abductions, and devastation.