(DailyAnswer.org) – Christian refugees were slaughtered in their sleep as armed militants shouting “Allahu Akbar” killed 200 people in Nigeria’s deadliest sectarian attack yet, raising fears of a calculated campaign to eliminate Christians from Benue State.
At a Glance
- Islamic Fulani militants killed over 200 displaced Christians in Yelewata, Benue State, Nigeria on June 13, 2025
- Attackers armed with machetes set fire to buildings after shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the late-night ambush
- Local priest Father Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee witnessed the massacre and narrowly escaped death
- Pope Leo XIV condemned the attack and called for increased security for persecuted Christians
- The massacre is part of escalating violence that has killed nearly 10,000 Nigerian Christians over two years
Nigeria’s Deadliest Christian Massacre
The Yelewata community in Benue State, Nigeria became the site of unprecedented carnage when Islamic Fulani militants attacked a shelter housing approximately 500 internally displaced Christians on June 13, 2025. The Diocese of Makurdi Foundation for Justice, Development, and Peace confirmed that 200 people were killed in what is now considered the deadliest atrocity in the region. Initial reports indicated 100 fatalities, but the death toll doubled as authorities discovered more victims in the aftermath of the brutal assault.
The attackers targeted families as they slept, setting fire to buildings and attacking victims with machetes. Many families were reportedly locked inside their homes and burned alive, according to Amnesty International Nigeria. The militants initially attempted to attack St. Joseph’s Church but were repelled by local law enforcement before redirecting their assault to the market square where many displaced Christians had sought refuge.
Eyewitness Accounts of Terror
Father Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee, a local priest who survived the attack, provided a harrowing firsthand account of the massacre. “What I saw was truly gruesome. People were slaughtered. Corpses were scattered everywhere,” Father Angbianbee reported.
“When we heard the shots and saw the militants, we committed our lives to God. This morning, I thank God I am alive.” – Rev. Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee.
The priest confirmed the identity of the attackers, stating unequivocally: “There is no question about who carried out the attack. They were definitely Fulanis. They were shouting ‘Allahu Akbar.'” Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reported that militants stormed the area shouting “Allahu Akhbar” before “killing people at will.” The attack has drawn criticism toward Nigerian law enforcement for their delayed response to the violence.
Pattern of Persecution
The Yelewata massacre is part of a disturbing pattern of violence against Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. Previous attacks by Fulani herdsmen during Lent and Holy Week earlier this year resulted in over 170 Christian deaths. The region has experienced multiple raids, with more than 5,000 people displaced from their homes. According to Global Christian Relief, nearly 10,000 Nigerian Christians have been killed by Islamic extremists from November 2022 to November 2024.
“Some 200 people were murdered, with extraordinary cruelty” – Pope Leo XIV.
Church leaders in the region have expressed fears of a coordinated plan to eliminate Christians from the area. The consistent targeting of Christian communities, coupled with what many perceive as inadequate government protection, has heightened concerns about religious persecution. Pope Leo XIV condemned the attack and called for security, peace, and justice for Nigeria’s Christian communities, highlighting the victims as internal refugees who had already been displaced by previous violence.
International Response
As international attention turns to the tragedy in Benue State, human rights organizations are calling for stronger measures to protect vulnerable Christian communities. The repeated nature of these attacks, their increasing brutality, and the apparent religious motivation behind them have prompted calls for the Nigerian government to take more decisive action to protect religious minorities and hold perpetrators accountable.
“Militants stormed in, shouting ‘Allahu Akhbar’ (‘God is great’), before killing people at will” – Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The Yelewata massacre represents a significant escalation in Nigeria’s ongoing sectarian conflict, raising urgent questions about religious freedom and the safety of Christian communities in regions where they face persistent threats. With the death toll from this single attack reaching 200, the incident marks a disturbing milestone in what many observers describe as a slow-moving genocide against Christians in parts of Nigeria.
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