The slaughter against Christians in North-Central Nigeria appears to be continuing unabated, even as believers in the United States await word on whether the State Department will move to label Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

In Benue state, Fulani herdsmen, a nomadic group of Islamists, have reportedly killed at least 86 Christians across two weeks. At least 46 of the deaths occurred on June 1, a Sunday, Morning Star News reports. In the village of Tse Antswam, 18 were killed.

Community leader Daniel Abomtse described the nature of the Tse Antswam attack.

“Some were shot, while others were slaughtered, and houses burned,” Abomtse said.

George Daniel, a resident of Edikwu Ankpali, spoke with Morning Star News in a text message about another attack, which led to the massacre of 28 Christians, Christian Daily International and Morning Star News said in a joint report.

“A mass burial has been held for 28 Christians of Benue state who were brutally killed by armed herdsmen in Ankali, Edikwu Ankpali community, located in the Apa Local Government Area,” Daniel’s message said. “Several Christians were also reportedly abducted during the attacks.”

According to a local source, Christians displaced by the attack are taking refuge at another Christian village.

Plateau state, northeast of Benue, also saw a recent slew of slaughters. Thirty-six Christians were killed between May 25 and June 3, Morning Star News reports.

 The latest attack occurred across three predominantly Christian villages. On June 3, resident Yakubu Kefas told Morning Star News that “The attackers who we believe are Fulani terrorists are carrying out indiscriminate shootings, killings, and large-scale arson, resulting in widespread terror, Christian casualties and destruction of property.”

During a June 2 attack, seven Christians were slaughtered in the Mushere area.

Another resident told Morning Star that the herdsman attacked, set fire and killed believers in the predominantly Christian villages of Mbor, Margif and Mijing on May 27, and in the Kwahas area of Mushere, a pastor by the name of Rev. Mimang Lekyil, 70, was reportedly kidnapped and killed that day.

In 2021, the Biden State Department removed Nigeria from the CPC list, a record of countries that severely violate religious liberty. According to Open Doors’ World Watch List 2024, Nigeria is the deadliest country to live in as a Christian. Of the Christians killed for their faith in 2024, 82% were in Nigeria, the data reports. More Christians are killed in Nigeria than in all other countries combined.

Maureen Ferguson, a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, told Baptist Press in May that she is encouraging the Senate to confirm Mark Walker of North Carolina, a former pastor and congressman, as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. Ferguson said she believes Walker’s confirmation would be “a first step” in bringing more attention to the Nigeria genocide.

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