The U.S. State Department has joined the Pope in condemning the recent massacre of Christians in Nigeria, reportedly carried out by Islamist Fulani militants.

The Pope stated during a recent address to thousands at the Vatican that “some 200 people were murdered, with extraordinary cruelty” on June 13 in Yelewata, in Nigeria’s Benue State.

Late Monday, a State Department spokesperson informed Digital, “We strongly condemn these increasing attacks, including recent massacres in Benue state which primarily targeted Christian farming villages.”

“Shouting “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic for “God is great”), the attackers burnt the buildings and assaulted people with guns and machetes,” the NGO Aid to the Church in Need wrote in a statement, adding that the militants “used fuel to set fire to the doors of the people’s accommodation before opening fire.”

The Pope told the crowds in Rome that the majority of those “brutally killed” in Yelewata had been sheltering in a location. “Most of the victims were internal refugees, who were hosted by a local Catholic mission,” the pontiff stated. He added that he would pray for “security, peace and justice,” particularly for “rural Christian communities of the Benue state who have been relentless victims of violence.”

Nigeria is one of the most perilous places in the world to be a Christian, according to Open Doors International’s 2025 World Watch List (WWL). Of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide in WWL’s latest reporting period, 3,100 of those who died – 69% – were in Nigeria.

Speaking to Digital, a State Department spokesperson confirmed reports that Islamic militant groups are conducting the attacks on Christians. “The United States remains deeply concerned about the levels of violence in Nigeria, including the threats posed by terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in northern Nigeria, and the impact that violence has on all communities in Nigeria.”

This year, Islamist militants have frequently attacked areas of Nigeria where the population is predominantly Christian. Benue State, where the latest massacre occurred, is reported to be 93% Christian.

One Nigerian church leader, who requested anonymity for his safety, told Digital just last month that what the attackers “want is to be sure that Islam takes over every part of these places. … And so they’re doing everything to make sure that Christianity is brought down and Islam is the established No. 1. They want to make sure that Sharia law (strict Islamic law) has taken over Nigeria.”

A spokesperson appeared to support this viewpoint, saying, “violent extremist groups target a wide range of civilians and military targets as part of their broader campaign against a secular state. The increase in violent Islamic extremism and repeated attacks against vulnerable communities in Nigeria must be addressed more effectively.”

A Nigerian bishop informed Digital in June that he had been threatened and his home village was murderously attacked after he appealed to lawmakers at a March congressional hearing.

Bishop Wilfred Anagbe said that after he traveled to Washington to testify, assailants killed 20 parishioners in four attacks within 10 days in his diocese, the area for which he is responsible.

Now, the bishop is in hiding after several foreign embassies in Nigeria’s capital Abuja warned him of credible high-level official threats that “something might happen to him.”

The State Department spokesperson added, “We regularly urge the Government of Nigeria to intensify their efforts to protect civilians, enforce rule of law, and hold perpetrators accountable. The United States partners with the Government of Nigeria to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism capabilities, working together toward the elimination of terrorist organizations and their networks of support.”

The Nigerian government did not respond to a Digital request for comment. However, President Bola Tinubu visited Benue State this past week and told reporters, “Let’s fashion out a framework for lasting peace.”

The same day, in the same district, six more people were reported to have been killed.