Fulani Militias Kill 24 Christians in Governor Mutfwang’s County

At least 24 Christians were killed in an overnight attack on Bin Mper community in Kombun District of Mangu County, Plateau state, the county of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, according to local community leaders, as families gathered Tuesday to bury victims of the assault.

The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, Aug. 18, prompted condemnation from the Plateau State Government, which confirmed that violence had taken place in the community and called for calm while security agencies investigate.

In a statement released Tuesday, Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap said the government condemned the attack and expressed sympathy to affected residents and families.

“The Plateau State Government has condemned the reported attack in Bin Mper community, Kombun District of Mangu County, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026,” the statement read.

Governor Mutfwang directed security agencies to increase surveillance and patrols in Bin Mper, Kombun District, and other vulnerable communities in Mangu County.

The government urged residents to remain peaceful and provide information to help security personnel identify those responsible.

Community representatives said 24 Christians were buried following the attack, while three others injured during the violence remain hospitalized.

Attacks Increasingly Common

Jonathan Kyesmang, president of the Mwaghavul Youth National Association, said the attack followed a series of previous incidents in the area.

According to Kyesmang, a young man from Mangu was attacked and later buried. He alleged that another attack followed, during which homes and huts were burned and crops destroyed before the latest violence occurred.

“We are known to be peaceful people,” Kyesmang said during the burial ceremony. “Our people have traveled across Mangu Local Government, Plateau state, Nigeria, and Africa, and we have lived peacefully with people from different backgrounds.”

Kyesmang alleged that those responsible for recent attacks were not representative of all Fulani communities living in Plateau, saying that many Fulani residents had historically lived peacefully alongside other ethnic groups.

He also alleged that the violence was connected to attempts to take control of ancestral lands, an accusation frequently raised by communities affected by recurring attacks in parts of Plateau.

“We are responsible citizens, and we will continue to tell the whole world the truth,” Kyesmang said. “We were never born to attack anybody.”

He added that Mwaghavul communities have historically coexisted with various ethnic groups, including Tiv, Idoma, Yoruba, and Igbo communities.

The Plateau State Government has not assigned responsibility for the attack, and security agencies have not publicly identified suspects.

A Weary Church

The latest violence adds to continued terrorism affecting parts of Plateau, where farming communities have experienced repeated attacks, displacement, and destruction of property in recent years.

Christian communities in central Nigeria have repeatedly reported attacks on villages, churches, and farming settlements. Kyesmang called for improved protection of vulnerable communities and accountability for perpetrators of violence.

Following the burial, community leader Kyesmang called for continued unity and urged authorities to take measures to protect residents and prevent further attacks.

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