A heartbroken pastor, Rev. Yakubu Mutong, of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), has shared his painful experience after militants attacked Maiyanga village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. According to him, the attackers killed seven of his brothers and over 150 church members, destroying homes and burning down the church building.

Rev. Mutong recounted that the tragedy occurred on December 24, 2024, when suspected Fulani militants launched coordinated attacks on Maiyanga and at least ten surrounding villages. What should have been a joyful Christmas Eve turned into a dark day of mourning, as the communities were left in ruins.

He revealed that the attackers stormed the villages at night, killing residents, burning houses, destroying farmlands, and setting churches on fire. “It was supposed to be Christmas, but we had nothing to celebrate,” he said. “Everything we owned was destroyed — our homes, our food, even our church.”

Standing before the ashes of his burnt home, Rev. Mutong said the destruction had left the community in complete despair. “Everything is gone, but we thank God that some of us are still alive,” he said with emotion, recalling how he personally lost seven brothers in the massacre.

The pastor called for urgent intervention from authorities to end the ongoing killings in Plateau communities. He emphasized that innocent people continue to suffer from the violence, which has displaced many families and left survivors struggling to rebuild their lives.