The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has telephoned a Nigerian archbishop whose home was attacked by armed raiders at the weekend. A neighbour who is reported to have challenged the attackers was shot dead in the incident.

The Archbishop of Jos, Benjamin Kwashi, was inside his compound when the raiders struck. He was unhurt. His home has been targeted before. In one incident, in 2006, a mob descended on his house, beat his children and assaulted his wife. This latest attack is being blamed on Fulani herdsmen.

In a statement, Lambeth Palace said Archbishop Justin had had a private, pastoral telephone discussion with Archbishop Benjamin. Details of the conversation would not be made public, it added.

In April Archbishop Justin met the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, in London. The two men discussed the security situation in Nigeria and the government’s efforts to address it. Archbishop Justin expressed his concern about the suffering resulting from raids on Christian communities and villages and offered support in finding a solution to the herder-farmer conflict.