Nigerian Christian Couple Abducted at Their Wedding by Muslim Fulani Herdsmen in Ongoing Violent Attacks
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Christians in Nigeria continue to be murdered and kidnapped by Muslim Fulani herdsmen who also burn down homes and invade churches in their communities. One Christian couple was recently kidnapped from their own wedding ceremony in Niger state, Morning Star News reports.
According to Morning Star News, a bride and groom were abducted when herdsmen invaded a church site in Tegina Kabata village, Shiroro County on April 12: the couple were in the middle of their wedding ceremony. Local resident Danjuma Iliya told Morning Star News: “As the pastor was officiating during the wedding solemnization, the herdsmen stormed the church and took away everyone who was unable to escape from the church building, including the bride and groom.” Iliya added that five other Christians have been killed by the herdsmen in Tegina Kabata village alone.
Christians in other parts of Niger state were also killed by herdsmen in April, Morning Star News reports. Local resident James Ayuba told the news outlet that two Christians were killed in Gidigori village, Kusherki District, in Rafi County, on April 20. Ayuba said the two Christians were among seven who were murdered in attacks by herdsmen over a period of five days.
Predominantly Muslim, Fulani herdsmen are a semi-nomadic ethnic group living mainly in the Middle Belt of central Nigeria. Forbes reports that, although the Fulani have fought against Christian farmers over land for hundreds of years, the violence began to intensify from the time of the Nigerian elections in 2011 and 2015. The areas most affected by the Fulani attacks include Jama’a, Kachia, Kagarko, Kaura, and Sanga in southern Kaduna.
Christian Solidarity International (CSI) issued a genocide warning for Nigeria on 30 January. CIS has called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against “a rising tide of violence directed against Nigerian Christians and others classified as ‘infidels’ by Islamist militants in the country’s north and middle belt regions.” Nigeria ranked second after Pakistan on Open Doors’ 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians are killed for their faith.
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