January 2018 Persecution Magazine

The Latest in a Long
Series of Attacks:
Fulani Militants Hit Ancha and Nkedoron Villages
By Nathan Johnson
In 2017, Fulani militants perpetrated
no less than 92 attacks on Christians
and their communities. These attacks
caused the deaths of more than 392
people, with many more injured, and
thousands of homes, farms, and essential
pieces of equipment destroyed. The
death and destruction caused by this
group in Nigeria is only surpassed by
Boko Haram. The two most recent Fulani
attacks have shown the true brutality and insidious
nature of the Fulani militancy.
Ancha Attack
On September 7, 2017, Fulani militants raided the
small village of Ancha in Plateau, Nigeria. During
this attack, they killed 20 Christian villagers, 19 of
whom attended one church.
“My heart is terribly heavy. I haven’t been able
to sleep. I was called (on the phone) at about 12:00
midnight when the Fulani militia came into the village,”
mourned Rev. Nanchwat Laven, the pastor of
Salama Baptist Church in Ancha village, which lost
19 members in the attack.
One villager, Lami Ishaya, a mother whose four
children were killed, recounted, “They hit the front
door, then I ran into the second room and jumped off
through the window to the back of the house and fled
into the bush. They killed four of my children and
a daughter-in-law. The mother of this 2-year-old
small boy was killed. Monday Musa is his name.”
When the Fulani attack, they do not only target
the men in the village. They indiscriminately kill
women, children, and the elderly alike. To add to
the brutality of their gruesome attacks, they use fire,
machetes, and automatic gunfire.
Another villager, who lost his father, mother, and
brother, told ICC, “I was sleeping, and got woken
by sound of gunshot. I came out and looked behind
the house, then I saw three persons holding guns.
I quickly ran back into the room and locked the
door. After a little while, I hear movements towards
my father’s hut, then heard gunshots. I heard loud
screams. I was so scared. And they continued
shooting. After a little while, it got quiet. I peeped
out to see as there was moonlight. I saw them beck-
18 PERSECU ION.org
JANUARY 2018
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN