‘There Is Genocide Taking Place’: Jihadists attack Church in Nigeria, Kill 3, Abduct Pastor and More
Ongoing violence in Nigeria has escalated, with recent attacks targeting Christians and prompting international calls for government action. A particularly devastating incident in Taraba State saw a church ransacked by Fulani militants,resulting in three deaths and the abduction of a pastor,alongside a wider pattern of attacks and displacement.
The recent abduction in Eruku is considered the most significant in a series of attacks across Kwara state, though the exact number of church members taken remains unconfirmed. Families are currently searching for missing relatives.
Father george Dogo, of the Holy Family Parish in takum, Taraba State, described the attack on his church to CBN News. “My church was ransacked by Fulani militants,” he said, reporting three fatalities. He detailed a two-month period of constant attacks on the region, characterized by burned homes and civilians killed with machetes. “The number of those killed as of now, the count could be about 32 [or] 33,” he stated.Over 26,000 people in takum have been displaced by the violence.
“What I want the world to know is that there is genocide taking place,” Father Dogo declared. “We don’t have people to tell our story. So this [interview] is an opportunity to tell our story.” He highlighted the dire conditions faced by survivors, stating, “There are people [who] have no food… No houses. No water. No, nothing.”
The violence isn’t isolated to Taraba State. In Taraba state,amadu protestors marched on Monday night following the killing of five people by fulani jihadists,demanding increased security patrols and quicker responses to distress calls. A local youth leader reported weekly attacks on the community.
Nigeria is identified as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians. According to Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide for their faith, 3,100 – 69 percent – were killed in Nigeria. thousands have witnessed the deaths or abductions of loved ones, and the destruction of their homes, churches, and farms.
These escalating attacks have sparked protests within Nigeria, with citizens demanding government intervention. Kwara state Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for deploying 900 additional troops to the region in a statement released on Wednesday.
International attention is also growing. Former President Trump has previously called on the Nigerian government to halt the bloodshed. On Tuesday, at the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz, alongside rapper Nicki Minaj and a group of faith leaders, spoke out in support of religious freedom in nigeria. Waltz stated that an entire faith was being erased “one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time.”
Open doors reports that Christians in Nigeria are being specifically targeted by Islamic militants. Nigeria’s president maintains that the government is working to protect all religious minorities.
