FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 21, 2025
Event Date: Thursday July 24, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. EST
Location: National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045
Contact: Judd Saul, Executive Director, Equipping The Persecuted
Email: judd@equippingthepersecuted.org
Press Conference at National Press Club, July 24
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Equipping the Persecuted, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to aiding persecuted Christians in Nigeria, will hold a press conference and premiere a groundbreaking documentary detailing the recent massacre of more than 270 Christians in the village of Yelewata, Benue State. The event will take place Thursday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
The press conference will feature firsthand accounts, exclusive investigative footage, and evidence of government complicity and military negligence. The presentation will be led by Judd Saul, Executive Director of Equipping the Persecuted, and Lara Logan, award-winning war correspondent known for her bold reporting on terrorism and conflict zones.
Special guests will include:
· Franc Utoo, a native of Yelewata, Nigerian attorney, and graduate student in Oklahoma, whose relatives were among those killed in the attack.
· Stephen Enada, survivor of persecution in Benue State and co-founder of the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), who will share regional context and current data.
This event marks the first public showing of video testimony and satellite intelligence related to the June 14 massacre—widely regarded as one of the most devastating attacks on Christians in Nigeria this year.
Background on the Yelewata Massacre
Between June 13–14, 2025, over 200 armed Fulani ethnic militants stormed the Christian farming village of Yelewata in Benue State, killing more than 270 people—many of whom were burned alive inside market stalls. Though military forces were stationed nearby, they failed to intervene.
A leaked intelligence memo from Nigeria’s Department of State Security (DSS), dated May 13, 2025, warned of an imminent attack on Yelewata. Despite this, no preventive action was taken, and troops arrived more than five hours after the massacre ended.
Eyewitnesses report that survivors were threatened by government officials to describe the attack as a “communal clash,” and media access was tightly restricted. Evidence of mass graves, scorched farmland, and intimidation tactics continues to surface.
Key Evidence to Be Presented
· Leaked DSS intelligence showing prior warning of the massacre
· Video testimonies and drone footage from Yelewata after the attack
· Firsthand accounts from survivors and family members of victims
· Confirmation of military inaction and false government narratives
· Documentation of underreported death tolls and displaced populations
A Growing National and Global Crisis
“This is not an isolated event,” said Saul. “This is part of a systematic campaign of Christian genocide in Nigeria. The world cannot ignore this any longer.”
According to the 2025 World Watch List and regional data:
· 3,100 Christians were killed in Nigeria between October 2023 and September 2024
· 2,830 Christians were abducted during the same period
· Nigeria accounted for 69 percent of all Christians killed globally
· More than 3.3 million people are internally displaced, mostly Christians
· More than 1,000 Christian women and girls were raped or assaulted in 2024 alone
Responsible Groups
The Fulani Ethnic Militia, a loose network of armed Fulani militants and criminal bandit gangs, is responsible for approximately 80% of Christian deaths in Nigeria. Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) are behind another 15%.
“These attacks are not spontaneous,” Saul said. “They are planned, systematic, and too often ignored or even excused by Nigerian officials.”
Other Notable Massacres in 2025
· Palm Sunday Massacre (April 13): Over 50 Christians killed near Jos, Plateau State, returning from church services
· Holy Week Attacks (May): At least 87 Christians killed across Benue State
· Plateau State Siege (May 25–29): Coordinated strikes on six villages displace thousands
A Humanitarian Disaster
Conditions in Nigeria’s displacement camps remain catastrophic. Over 3.3 million people are living in overcrowded and underserved IDP camps. Clean water, food, medical care, and basic shelter are in critically short supply. Journalists and humanitarian workers are routinely denied access to these camps by Nigerian security forces.
About Equipping the Persecuted
Equipping The Persecuted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to supporting persecuted Christians in Nigeria. The organization provides emergency aid within 48 hours of attacks, trains local security teams, operates schools and orphan care programs, and reports breaking stories through its investigative platform TruthNigeria.com. Its mission is to expose the truth, save lives, and provide hope where it is most needed.
For more information, visit: www.equippingthepersecuted.org
