In Vwang village in Vom District, Nigeria, the local Christian community is still reeling from a New Year’s Eve attack that left nine people dead when Fulani Islamist extremist gunmen opened fire on a Christian vigil. Pastor Gyang Ezekiel, the Alliance pastor and senior spiritual leader of the nearby Local Church Council of Danda, said the attack struck the very center of the community under his care.
Pastor Gyang said Danda has been a Christian community since its founding and was established explicitly on a Christian foundation. “This place has been a Christian-dominated area for some decades now,” he said. “This community was formed on a Christian platform, where Christianity has been and is still moving. There has never been any religion apart from Christianity here.”
He said the community’s faith remains firmly rooted in Jesus Christ and expressed confidence that their spiritual commitment has not been shaken despite the violence. Addressing the aftermath, Pastor Gyang said the suffering has been profound and that the church is struggling to respond to the scale of loss. While the church lacks the resources to replace what was destroyed, he said its focus remains on providing spiritual support to those affected.
The congregation has been praying together, comforting those who mourn, and urging members not to lose faith. Pastor Gyang said the church is focused on keeping Christ at the center of the community’s response to the violence. “We are trying to make sure that the people never lose hope in Christ,” he said, explaining that believers are being encouraged to deepen their faith rather than abandon it.
Hellbound and Down 