2 months ago
NEWYou tin now perceive to Fox News articles!
JOHANNESBURG A Holy Week attack successful a predominantly Christian municipality successful Nigeria which near a reported 28 dormant has led to wide fears that much of Christ’s followers could beryllium targeted complete nan coming Easter weekend.
On Palm Sunday past weekend, aggregate gunmen reportedly shouted a Muslim declaration arsenic they randomly opened occurrence successful nan predominantly Christian municipality of Angwan Rukuba, successful nan Jos District of Nigeria’s Plateau State.
"The terrorists stormed nan area successful a commando style and started shooting, sporadically chanting, 'Allahu Akbar' (God is awesome successful Arabic)," a section worker told nan assistance agency Voice of nan Martyrs from nan scene, adding "the area is (a majority) Christian community."
Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, told Fox News Digital this Easter location are fears of much attacks against Christians successful Nigeria: "Tragic events for illustration this are each excessively communal successful Plateau State and ample areas of bluish Nigeria. And excessively often they tin hap connected Christian beatified days for illustration this – so group successful nan region will retrieve nan devastating 2023 Christmas Eve attacks successful Benue authorities that killed complete 140 people."
AFTER TRUMP STRIKES ISLAMIST TERRORISTS, US GENERAL TRAVELS TO NIGERIA WITH MILITANTS 'ON THE RUN'
Police officers stitchery astatine nan segment of Sunday nighttime gunmen onslaught successful Gari Ya Waye organization successful nan Jos North Nigeria, Monday, March 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Omale)
Nigeria is classed nan seventh-worst state successful nan world for Christian persecution, by Open Doors. The statement claims it accounts for 72% of nan full number of Christian killings worldwide successful 2025.
A section human authorities lawyer who asked to conceal his sanction owed to information fears, was adjacent erstwhile this latest onslaught happened. He told Fox News Digital "a group of group came, astir 20, immoderate connected motorcycles, and started shooting."
He added that nan area is fundamentally a Christian one "and for anybody to spell and openly sprout astatine people, past it must beryllium that that personification had Christians successful mind."
CHRISTIANS TARGETED IN SYSTEMATIC KIDNAPPING CAMPAIGN IN NIGERIA BY JIHADI HERDSMEN, EXPERTS SAY
Funerals for immoderate 27 Christians who were reportedly killed by Islamist Fulani tribesmen successful nan colony of Bindi Ta-hoss, Nigeria connected July, 28, 2025 (Courtesy: Christian Solidarity International (CSI))
Another section Christian resident, who besides asked to withhold his name, told Fox News Digital, "I tin guarantee you that nan mostly position among Christians successful Nigeria is that what we are experiencing successful Nigeria is Islamic description ism, and it must beryllium stopped, utilizing immoderate intends is necessary."
The quality authorities lawyer said location are reports of videos circulating which are threatening much attacks against Christians, adding: "Here successful Jos successful Nigeria, we opportunity that location is nary Christian vacation aliases arena near connected nan Christian almanac that has escaped an onslaught by extremist Islamists aliases terrorists successful Nigeria, whether it is Christmas, Easter aliases Good Friday, Palm Sunday, aliases Sunday services aliases whatever. We are trapped."
Christians clasp signs arsenic they march connected nan streets of Abuja during a dream and penance for bid and information successful Nigeria successful Abuja connected March 1, 2020. - The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria gathered faithfuls arsenic good arsenic different Christians and different group to believe for information and to denounce nan barbaric killings of Christians by nan Boko Haram insurgents and nan incessant cases of kidnapping for ransom successful Nigeria. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
In a connection to Fox News Digital, Todd Nettleton of nan Voice of nan Martyrs’ group said that successful countries for illustration Nigeria, "Easter is often a play of peril. Holy days connected nan Christian calendar, including Christmas and Easter, are often times erstwhile those who dislike nan Gospel target our brothers and sisters successful convulsive attacks."
Open Doors’ Blythe said, "The fearfulness of being brutally attacked will bent complete millions of Christians crossed Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, arsenic they hole for Easter – a show that should beryllium nan astir joyful infinitesimal successful nan Christian calendar. We will beryllium praying that Christians astir nan world will beryllium safe and free to observe and believe jubilantly this Eastertide."
Fox News Digital reached retired to nan Nigerian authorities for comment, but received nary response.
Paul Tilsley is simply a seasoned analogous who has reported from 4 continents for much than 3 decades. Based successful Johannesburg, South Africa, he tin beryllium followed connected X @paultilsley.
