More than 73 people were massacred in Benue early this year.
The shooting and machete attacks have been carried out by Fulani herdsmen, nomadic Muslims who graze their cattle throughout the country, and for the past couple of years have been targeting Christian farmers who stand in their way.
Survivors described some of the attacks, with one man identified only as Vershima explaining how he and others had been ambushed on Jan. 3 by armed Fulani.
"The herdsmen opened fire on us, killing three of the people I was conveying and injuring me," the man said, who was shot in the chest and left for dead.
Another survivor, named Peter, a local cattle guard, said the attackers who went after him "were people I had interfaced with in that community."
"I got up and called them by their names and tried to wrestle the machete they had out of their hands, but to no avail. I was overpowered and they began to cut me," said Peter, who is now in a hospital recovering from his wounds.
*This really is a deeply sad situation in Nigeria. Please as often as you can remember, pray for the families of the victims. They must be going through a difficult time now and the sense of insecurity must be terribly overwhelming.
Pray also for Nigeria and the leadership. I pray God that these herdsmen and their sponsors are brought to book.
So much devastation and unnecessary destruction going on in this world. May it be our reminder that this world is not our home. We are only passing through.
The shooting and machete attacks have been carried out by Fulani herdsmen, nomadic Muslims who graze their cattle throughout the country, and for the past couple of years have been targeting Christian farmers who stand in their way.
Survivors described some of the attacks, with one man identified only as Vershima explaining how he and others had been ambushed on Jan. 3 by armed Fulani.
"The herdsmen opened fire on us, killing three of the people I was conveying and injuring me," the man said, who was shot in the chest and left for dead.
Another survivor, named Peter, a local cattle guard, said the attackers who went after him "were people I had interfaced with in that community."
"I got up and called them by their names and tried to wrestle the machete they had out of their hands, but to no avail. I was overpowered and they began to cut me," said Peter, who is now in a hospital recovering from his wounds.
*This really is a deeply sad situation in Nigeria. Please as often as you can remember, pray for the families of the victims. They must be going through a difficult time now and the sense of insecurity must be terribly overwhelming.
Pray also for Nigeria and the leadership. I pray God that these herdsmen and their sponsors are brought to book.
So much devastation and unnecessary destruction going on in this world. May it be our reminder that this world is not our home. We are only passing through.
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