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KAURA, Nigeria (LifeSiteNews) — LifeSiteNews has been sent graphic footage of Christian martyrs being brought for burial after the latest Islamist massacre in northern Nigeria. 

Over 50 Christians were killed in two villages almost 100 miles south of Kaduna City on Sunday by Fulani Islamists. An additional five people are in hospital, and three are missing. 

 30 of the victims from Sunday’s massacre in the state of Kaduna have now been buried. 

Speaking under anonymity to MiddleBeltTimes.com, a Catholic priest familiar with the now devastated villages of Madamai and Abun described the horrific event as a two-hour “massacre against the natives.” During the mass killing, 13 members of the same family were murdered and 20 houses burned. 

“The Herdsmen (Fulani Islamists) came in large numbers and began shooting at anything on sight,” the priest said. 

“As [of] this morning (Monday) we have counted 30 dead bodies, mostly women and children. Three [are] still missing while five are receiving treatment in the hospital,” he continued. 

“When [the assassins] came in, they first went to houses of people they know usually help in coordinating local security in the communities and killed them alongside their families before proceeding to other areas.” 

“The attackers obviously had a prior knowledge of who … to kill before coming.” 

Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the latest massacre at his general audience on Wednesday, saying he had “learned with sorrow the news of the armed attacks last Sunday against the villages of Madamai and Abun, in northern Nigeria.” 

“I pray for those who have died, for those who were wounded, and for the entire Nigerian population,” the Pope added. 

“I hope that the safety of every citizen might be guaranteed in the country.”  

Luka Binniyat of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) accused military leaders working under the country’s Muslim president, Muhammadu Buhari, of failing to protect Christian communities while maintaining a substantial military presence in the Islamic Hausa and Fulani settler communities.  

“[SOKAPU] strongly condemns the lack of seriousness by the Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Sallau, who is also the GOC, 3 Division, Nigerian Army Jos,” Binniyat said. 

“As of now, the most protected areas of Southern Kaduna are the Hausa and Fulani settler communities,” he continued.  

“They’ve [got the] heavy presence of Operation Safe Haven, police, and related security agencies. We are therefore calling on the Nigerian Army to look into this allegation and do the needful. We’re also calling on our youths to remain vigilant, defend their communities, cooperate with security agencies and never take the law into their hands.” 

Southern Kaduna’s population is approximately 90% Christian, but sources there told LifeSiteNews that the present governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai, has repeatedly failed to protect the Christian community. 

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) president Mervyn Thomas said local and federal governments must do “far more to protect all the vulnerable communities in an unbiased manner, and to combat the threats posed by Fulani militia and other armed non-state actors.”  

“This is also not the first time allegations have been made of inadequate protection despite warnings of an impending attack,” Thomas stated. 

“This is concerning and must be investigated by the Nigerian government and, failing that, by the wider international community.” 

An average of 17 Christians are killed every day in Nigeria by Islamic terrorists. At least 3,462 Christians, including ten priests or pastors, were murdered in that country in the first 200 days of 2021. 

According to CSW,  Father Cosmos Michael Magaji of the Catholic St. Thomas Quasi Parish, Mallagum, named the following victims from Sunday’s attack: 

Mrs. Lami Yakubu Adakai 

Mrs. Florence Yakubu Adakai 

Danlami Adakai 

Samaila Adakai 

Garba Simon 

Patrick Bala 

Kato Achigaba 

Andrew Lekwot 

Lawrence Andrew 

Victor Joseph 

Philemon Akant Habiba 

Sofio Bala Bwachat 

Siman Zamani 

Danjuma Yusuf 

Friday Bulus 

Eunice Ibrahim 

Stephen Nkom 

Yusuf Zuwahu 

Genesis Danjuma 

Bulus Markus 

Ezekiel Bobai 

Talatu Ezekiel 

Bonat Francis 

ThankGod Hananiya 

Raymond La’aki 

Musa Yashim 

Janet Duniya 

Paul Akwok 

Yohanna Gagarau 

Lucy Kambai 

Faith Bala 

Esther Luka 

Philip Kamba