The attack struck Naridon village in Kauru County shortly before midnight on July 26. Assailants invaded the community for nearly two hours, killing residents in their homes. Among the dead were 10 women and 11 children, including a 3-year-old.
A Catholic funeral Mass for 27 of the victims was held on August 1, attended by thousands of mourners, pastors from multiple denominations, and Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi of the Kafanchan Diocese. Three evangelical Christians killed in the same assault were buried earlier.
Bishop Kundi condemned the killings as pure criminality, not reprisal or land disputes, and called on the government to enforce the rule of law. He urged the grieving not to surrender to despair or hatred.
Nigeria remains the deadliest country in the world for Christians. According to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, 3,490 of the 4,849 Christians killed globally for their faith in the latest reporting period were Nigerian.
The violence continues to devastate Christian farming communities across the Middle Belt and beyond.
Prayers for the families of the murdered, for the wounded, and for protection over Nigeria’s persecuted Church