Days after the Palm Sunday massacre in Jos left at least 30 Christians dead, coordinated Easter weekend attacks across central Nigeria claimed dozens more lives, with multiple communities in Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states reporting killings, abductions, and extensive destruction during one of the most significant periods in the Christian calendar.

In Benue state, at least 17 Christians were reportedly killed in the Mbalom community, Gwer East Local Government Area, during an early morning incident on Easter Sunday. Residents reported that unidentified gunmen entered the village before dawn, opened fire on civilians, and set homes on fire. Survivors fled into nearby bush areas, while local sources indicated that additional bodies were being found in surrounding areas as search efforts continued.

Mbalom has previously experienced mass-casualty violence. In April 2018, 19 Catholic worshippers, including two priests, were killed in the same community during a church attack.

Elsewhere in Gwer East, violence was also reported in Ikpayongo, roughly 10 miles south of Makurdi, where a local youth volunteer commander was killed. Community members alleged that the attackers were guided by an individual previously known to residents.

In Kaduna, multiple attacks targeted Christian communities during Easter services. In Ariko, Kachia Local Government Area, armed individuals entered the community in the early hours of Sunday and opened fire on worshippers gathered for Easter. Witnesses said the attackers first struck a church belonging to the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), then moved to a nearby Catholic church. Read more »

ICC Staff | “Dozens killed in Easter attacks across Nigeria” | April 6, 2026

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