Tears and ashes mark what should have been a joyful Christmas in Plateau State, as Reverend Yakubu Mutong of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) relived the horror of a night that wiped out his family, congregation, and home.
The cleric, who serves in Maiyanga village, Bokkos Local Government Area, said suspected Fulani militants invaded his community and ten others on December 24, 2024, killing and burning everything in sight.
According to him, seven of his brothers and more than 150 members of his church were slaughtered in the coordinated assault that left entire villages in ruins.
Speaking in a grief-stricken tone, Rev. Mutong said,
“My name is Rev. Yakubu Mutong, I am a pastor with the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN. This is my village, Maiyanga. Maiyanga is in Bokkos local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria. What really happened here is that…
“Not only here in this village were affected by this crisis. More than 11 villages were affected and Maiyanga happened to be one of the affected villages. And in these villages, it is the same nature of attacks that were carried out.
“The killing, the maiming of people, slaughtering them and burning their houses, properties, and their foodstuffs. From the records we collected, we have over 150 people who were killed in one day, which was on 24th December, 2024.
“It was supposed to be a Christmas but for us, there was nothing to celebrate. It was a mournful Christmas because of what happened to us.
“As you can see, I am standing here in front of my house in my village that was burnt down by the militants. I lost everything in the house, including food and all the furniture.
“Even the church close by was burnt including the pastorium. Everything about us here in this village is in confusion, as you can see.
“Everything in this village has been destroyed but we thank God that some of us are still alive. Personally, I have lost seven of my brothers to this crisis.”
For Rev. Mutong and his shattered community, Christmas turned into carnage — a night meant for worship and joy became a massacre that left behind nothing but ruins and heartbreak.
