A wave of brutal violence erupted during Holy Week in north-central Nigeria, shattering the peace of Palm Sunday and extending into the days that followed. At least 53 Christians were killed in a series of targeted attacks, leaving communities reeling in fear and grief.
The deadliest incident unfolded in Ungwan Rukuba, a community near Jos in Plateau State. Gunmen, identified by survivors as belonging to either militant Fulani groups or Boko Haram, descended upon the area late Sunday evening, unleashing a horrific assault.
Earlier that same day, violence flared in Angwa Rukuba Junction, claiming the lives of at least ten more individuals. The attacks weren’t isolated; a bachelor party in Kahir village, Kaduna State, became a scene of unimaginable tragedy, with thirteen young men – aged between 21 and 31 – brutally murdered.
Joshua Emmanuel, a missionary and theological college president who has lived in the region for nearly a decade, witnessed the crisis firsthand. Living just minutes from the massacre site in Angwan Rukuba, he described a city gripped by terror and a fragile calm shattered repeatedly.
A 48-hour curfew was initially imposed, then abruptly lifted, only to be followed by renewed attacks. Emmanuel recounted seeing armed men with machetes appearing in the streets, indiscriminately targeting Christians and sowing widespread panic.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically. Busy streets emptied, women disappeared from public spaces, and groups of Muslims and Christians faced each other with suspicion and hostility. Emmanuel personally witnessed a man killed and his vehicle set ablaze, a stark illustration of the escalating violence.
Anger and frustration boiled over among the Christian community, fueled by repeated attacks and a perceived lack of protection. Many expressed a desperate feeling of being “sick and tired of being slaughtered,” believing security forces were either absent or too slow to respond.
The city effectively shut down, with limited access to essential supplies and restricted movement. An unusually high number of security checkpoints appeared, yet the sense of tension remained palpable, with fears of broader street fighting looming.
Disturbing allegations surfaced, claiming that Muslim religious leaders actively encouraged the attacks, urging their followers to exploit the period following Ramadan to “hit and hurt the Christians.” These claims echoed across social media, adding another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation.
Local journalist Paul, a Christian resident, corroborated these allegations, stating that threats had been publicly issued weeks prior to the attacks, yet authorities failed to take preventative measures. Warnings posted on Facebook about impending violence were ignored.
Paul criticized the lifting of the curfew without adequate security deployment in known flashpoints, creating a deadly trap for those returning to their routines. Innocent people were ambushed and killed, highlighting a clear pattern of negligence and premeditation.
Intelligence gathered by groups like Equipping the Persecuted and Truth Nigeria suggested that Nigerian authorities had prior knowledge of the threat. Sources indicated the military identified a large gathering of Fulani militants armed with automatic weapons, but were ordered not to pursue them after a brief engagement.
Judd Saul, leading these organizations, warned that the threat is not contained, but expanding. Militants are reportedly massing in multiple states, preparing for further attacks, signaling that “this is just the beginning” of a deepening crisis.
Despite the scale of the violence, mainstream U.S. media largely remained silent, with a notable exception being The New York Times, which reported on the deaths while simultaneously disputing claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria. However, statistics reveal a staggering loss of life, with over 7,000 Christians killed in the first 220 days of the year alone, and projections indicating a doubling of that number.
