Local news sources confirmed that 16 people have been killed in a gun attack by semi-nomadic herdsmen on a church in Gwer, Benue State, in the early hours of 23 April.
Local herdsmen attacked the church in Ayar-Mbalom during a morning service. Amongst those killed were two ministers named as Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha.
Terver Akase, a spokesperson for State Governor Samuel Ortom, told news sources that the attackers went on to set 50 houses on fire, causing serious disruption to the entire community.
![](images/nigeria-4x3.jpg)
The attack comes just four days after the murder of ten Christian famers by herdsmen in the Guma Local Government Area, also in Benue State, a major scene of carnage by suspect herdsmen since January.
President Muhammadu Buhari issued a statement calling the violation of a place of worship “vile, evil and satanic” and an “attempt to stoke religious conflict”.