NIGERIA: Dozens Killed in Easter Attacks

Source: International Christian Concern, Voice of the Martyrs Australia

Days after the Palm Sunday massacre in Jos left at least 30 Christians dead, coordinated Easter weekend attacks across central Nigeria claimed dozens more lives, with multiple communities in Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states reporting killings, abductions, and extensive destruction during one of the most significant periods in the Christian calendar.

In Benue state, at least 17 Christians were reportedly killed in the Mbalom community during an early morning incident on Easter Sunday. Residents reported that unidentified gunmen entered the village before dawn, opened fire on civilians, and set homes on fire. Survivors fled into nearby bush areas, while local sources indicated that additional bodies were being found in surrounding areas as search efforts continued.

In Kaduna state, multiple attacks targeted Christian communities during Easter services. In Ariko, Kachia LGA, armed individuals surrounded the community before they opened fire on worshippers. Witnesses said the attackers struck a church belonging to the Evangelical Church Winning All. At least 12 people were killed and several others abducted. Military personnel later arrived and reportedly secured the release of 31 captives.

In Kajuru LGA, at least three Christians were killed in Maro Kasuwa during a separate early morning attack, with additional reports of kidnappings. Other villages in southern Kaduna were also affected, with combined casualty figures from the area reaching at least 15 worshippers killed during Easter services across multiple locations.

In neighbouring Nasarawa state, violence occurred in Udege precinct, where at least 10 people were killed and several homes destroyed across the villages of Gidan-Ogiri, Akyewa Baka, and Udege-Kasa.

Across the affected states, witnesses consistently described attackers arriving on motorcycles and on foot, often in large numbers and operating for extended periods before the arrival of security forces. Authorities have not yet released the official death toll for the Easter attacks, and government responses were still pending at the time of reporting. Local leaders in affected communities have called for increased security presence and faster response times in rural areas.

• Pray for Believers across Nigeria as they face the continual loss of life and ongoing targeted violence for their faith in Christ. Ask the Lord to comfort and draw them into deeper faith in Him.

• Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to the attackers. Pray that many would have a personal encounter with the Lord and come to repentance and faith in Him.

• Pray that God would grant wisdom and courage to the authorities in Nigeria, so that they would not only know what is right for their people but also be willing to make hard decisions to protect them.