Philip Amasham wept as he told his story. 

During the week, the 37-year-old civil servant lived in Makurdi, the capital of Benue state in northern Nigeria for work. On weekends, he, his wife and five children traveled back to their home village to work on their farm plot. This past April, Philip had to stay behind a day to catch up on work. His wife, Comfort, went to the homestead with their children, and Philip planned to join them the next day.

It is hot in Benue state, so on the hottest nights, people often sleep outside their huts to stay cool. That night, Comfort, her sister-in-law, and her sister-in-law’s baby lay down in front of the house. 

Though they knew some regions of Nigeria had experienced attacks by militants, the family felt perfectly safe sleeping in the open in Benue state. Most attacks were happening far to the north. 

But they were wrong. 

That night, Fulani militants entered the village, and when they saw the sleeping women, they shot them as they lay sleeping in front of the hut. The next day, Philip learned his younger brother had also been killed by militants in another area. 

Constant Threat

Christians live under constant threat in northern Nigeria. Islamic militants and armed bandits attack believers there, where Muslims are the majority. Making matters worse, violence against believers is spreading to the south, where Christians are the majority. According to ICR’s field worker, Nigeria’s government denies that religious persecution exists in the country. 

Philip and Comfort would have celebrated 23 years of marriage this year. Instead, Philip is now a widower, responsible for their five children. It is a painful season for the family, but Philip said he encourages his children daily by reminding them that God created their mother, and he must have been ready to take her back. “We are at peace,” Philip said. “We are getting by as God gives us strength.”

The militants who attacked Philip’s family are part of a large ethnic group, called the Fulani, who are spread out across West Africa. They are nomadic herders who raise cattle, and most are nominal Muslims.

In the past, the herders have clashed with traditionally Christian farmers in northern Nigeria over land use. In the past two decades, however, extremist Islamist groups active in the region have radicalized some Fulani, provided them with weapons and sent them to attack and raze Christian villages. 

Only a small percentage of Fulani people are radical, and they need to hear of Jesus’ love for them. According to the Joshua Project, the Fulani are an unreached people group. However, there are some Fulani who have converted to Christ who reach out to their own people at great personal risk. 

The Terrorist Agenda

Northern Nigerian Christians face threats from more than just radicalized Fulani. The north is rife with terrorist groups, specifically Boko Haram and The Islamic State West Africa Province, an ISIS offshoot. Both organizations want to eradicate the Christian presence in Nigeria. 

In the last decade, terrorists and radicalized fighters have repeatedly attacked Christian villages in the north, displacing entire congregations and villages. Numerous pastors have been forced to leave the region after threats and attacks. Nearly every Christian in the north has lost a family member or friend in large-scale attacks. The numbers of those displaced, widowed, and orphaned is overwhelming at times. 

Extremist groups often target Christian men and boys, leaving Christian women economically devastated. Our partners report that armed groups are increasingly targeting Christian women for abduction, sexual assault and forced marriage. When extremist groups attack entire villages, Christians lose their land and their livelihood, and many are now living as internally displaced people (IDPs) in camps or crowded into surrounding communities. An entire generation of children has been affected.

Solid Faith

Philip showed a fellow believer the exact spot where his wife had been shot in front of their home just a month before. Even as he shed tears while talking about his wife, other Christian noted his smile, warmth, and calm. “If not for my faith,” Philip said, “I would be long gone and confused.”