In Nigeria’s Plateau state, pastors and their congregations face relentless attacks from Fulani herders. Despite losing loved ones, homes and livelihoods, these faith leaders continue to serve their traumatised communities, declaring: “We still have faith in God.”
In Nigeria’s middle belt, Christian communities are coming under increasing attack from Muslim Fulani herders.
Crops have been destroyed, land taken by force and Christian farmers murdered in Plateau state. Often, religious leaders, seen as cornerstones of the Nigerian community, are targeted.
In Bindi, Pastor Amos saw his uncle – a father to seven children – killed in a recent attack. He said many people were burned and women were raped in front of their families.
Rev Yakubu had his house and car burned in a recent attack that killed 27 people. The car – one of the only vehicles in the village – was often used to take people to hospital in an emergency.
“Even though this thing has happened, we still have faith in God,” says Rev Yakubu. “God is with us. That is why He saved us from that incident. I and my children, if not because of God, we would have died.”
Rev Stephen says he hears gunshots most nights in Jol, the community where he has lived and served for twelve years. Most of his church members no longer farm their land or send their children to school for fear of being attacked and killed.
“The killing has never stopped. The Fulani are always ready to attack us, to destroy our farmland,” he says.
Tarfusa lost her husband, Rev Gideon, when their home and church in Siwa were attacked and seven people murdered. She and her husband fled but Gideon later returned to check on the community. He said he would rather die with his community than run away.
Photos: Tom Triffett
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