Seventeen Christians were shot and killed by Fulani herdsmen on Palm Sunday following a baby dedication service at Ruhaniya Baptist Church. The attack, which occurred in Konshu-Numa village of Akwanga County in Nasarawa, took place as family and friends gathered to celebrate the dedication.

The mother of the baby, Safaratu John Kabiru Ali, was killed in the attack, and the father, John Kabiru Ali, was shot and was in critical condition as of press time. The dead were between the ages of 10 and 80.

According to Morning Star News, a local resident said that among those killed were 10 members of the Ruhaniya Baptist Church, five members of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC), one member of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and a musician playing for guests.

Nigeria is 12th on the 2019 Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution.