At least 11 people, including a pastor, were killed in a series of attacks targeting Christian communities in Nigeria’s Plateau and Benue states between November 3 and November 8, according to field reports. The violence, attributed to Fulani herdsmen, has raised concerns over escalating religious and ethnic tensions in the region.
Benue Market Attack Leaves Four Dead
In Benue’s Logo Local Government Area (LGA), gunmen opened fire at a busy market on November 3, killing four people, among them Pastor Terungwa Tyonungo. Witnesses described a chaotic two-hour assault near a POS shop and motor park in the Ikyô Tor Dukur area. Conflicting casualty reports emerged, with local officials confirming four dead and five injured, while police cited three fatalities.
TruthNigeria reported that Fulani militiamen on motorcycles carried out the attack, part of what community leaders describe as a broader siege on Christian farming villages. Government sources suggested the assaults aim to disrupt harvests by terrorizing markets where farmers sell their produce.
Plateau Communities Under Siege
In neighboring Plateau state, violence continued with at least seven more deaths. On November 6, two people were killed in Larkas village, Mangu LGA, with survivors describing a crippling economic blockade that has prevented farming and harvests. Mathias Sokdet, a community leader overseeing displaced persons, appealed for international aid, stating that Christian villagers face starvation without outside intervention.
The bloodshed escalated on November 7 when gunmen assassinated the nephew of prominent Christian leader Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri in Riyom LGA—an attack local sources interpreted as retaliation against outspoken religious figures. The following day, three Christian youths and a soldier were gunned down in Barkin Ladi LGA’s Bel village. Among the dead was 15-year-old Emmanuel Pam Dachung, whose killing alongside a military officer prompted outcry over security failures.
Vivian Christopher, 26, survived with six gunshot wounds and underwent emergency surgery at Jos University Teaching Hospital. Community leaders questioned the effectiveness of curfews as residents reported ongoing threats from armed herdsmen.
Broader Implications
The attacks reflect deepening instability in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where competition over land and resources frequently erupts into sectarian violence. Human rights groups have long documented clashes between predominantly Muslim Fulani pastoralists and Christian farmers, with recent months seeing a marked increase in targeted killings. Neither military nor police spokespersons had issued statements by the time reports were published.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/11/nigeria-christian-report-pastor-among-four-killed-benue/