Christians Slaughtered In Terrorist Attack

Gunmen shouting “Allahu Akbar” slaughtered Christians on Palm Sunday two years in a row, yet mainstream media dismissed it as mere complexity rather than targeted genocide.

Story Snapshot

Two consecutive Palm Sunday massacres in Nigeria’s Plateau State killed over 70 Christians in 2025 and 2026.
Attackers targeted worshippers in Christian villages, destroying homes and displacing thousands.
Plateau Governor called attacks genocide, not farmer-herder clashes.
New York Times labeled genocide claims “false,” fueling coverage disputes.
Nigeria accounts for 72% of global Christian killings, per Open Doors.

Palm Sunday 2026: Attack on Angwan Rukuba

Gunmen on motorcycles stormed Angwan Rukuba in Jos North on March 30, 2026, killing 20 to 40 Christians. Attackers shouted “Allahu Akbar” while firing on worshippers and residents. The assault hit multiple communities including Gari Ya Waye. Plateau State imposed a 48-hour curfew that night. Same evening, militants killed 13 at a wedding in Kaduna’s Kahir village. Eyewitnesses described coordinated terror on a holy day.

Palm Sunday 2025: Zikke Village Devastation

On April 13, 2025, assailants attacked Zikke village near Jos, slaughtering 54 Christians after Palm Sunday service. Militants razed 103 households, leaving survivors homeless. This mirrored the next year’s horror, establishing a pattern of holiday targeting. Local reports confirmed Islamist gunmen as perpetrators. Christian leaders decried the assaults as deliberate strikes on faith gatherings.

Pattern of Persecution in Nigeria’s Middle Belt

Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a Christian stronghold, faces relentless violence. From 2009 to 2023, over 50,000 Christians died nationwide. Open Doors ranks Nigeria seventh-worst for persecution, with 72% of global Christian killings in 2025. Plateau State saw 546 Christians killed that year alone. December 2023 to February 2024 brought 1,300 deaths, including 500 women and 260 children, displacing 30,000. Attacks coincide with Christian holidays.

Governor Mutfwang Confronts Genocide Claims

Plateau Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang declared the violence a “calculated campaign of genocide,” rejecting herder-farmer clash narratives. He met Nigeria’s president and defense chief, demanding intervention. Mutfwang pledged military aid and humanitarian support. Pastor Ishaku Mathew Kure, losing 10 congregants, questioned why authorities disarmed Christian youth but ignored Fulani militias. Government response lags, eroding trust.

Media Downplays Religious Targeting

The New York Times covered massacres but called Republican genocide claims “false,” citing analysts who stressed complexity and criminal motives over religious tensions. Rep. Riley Moore rebuked this, asking how many more holy-day slaughters media needs before acknowledging faith-based massacres. Facts align with conservative views: patterns of “Allahu Akbar” cries, holiday timing, and Christian victim focus demand clear religious framing over vague denials.

Displacement and Long-Term Fears

Violence displaced over 90,000 Christians from Taraba after church raids. Residents view attacks as Islamic expansionism seizing land. No Christian holiday escapes radical Islamist strikes, per human rights lawyers. Amnesty International demanded probes into security failures. Confidence in Nigerian forces plummets as impunity persists. International monitors track the crisis amid calls for justice.