More than 70 Nigerian Christians were killed and another 20 Christian medical students were kidnapped in separate violent attacks in the southeastern Nigerian state of Benue over the past few weeks, according to reports.

The attacks have renewed calls from religious freedom advocates that Nigeria be placed on a watchlist of countries responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.

The Nigerian newspaper The Sun reported that herdsmen, with the assistance of local bandits, attacked the predominantly Christian village of Ayati in the Ukum Local Government Area, killing at least 74 people earlier thid month.

In another incident, at least 20 Nigerian Medical Association students were kidnapped in Benue state while traveling to a conference organised by the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students in Enugu.