Once again Nigerian authorities are being criticised for his or her failure to offer basic security for members of its Christian population.
The latest of many militant outrages occurred on 10 July in a seminary when gunmen kidnapped three students and killed a member of the Civil Defence Corps (CDC), Aid to the Church in Need reports. The seminary was previously targeted lower than 10 months ago.
Islamist militants have carried out quite a few attacks, kidnappings and massacres of Christians in parts of Nigeria. Local Christian leaders often allege that the safety services are nowhere to be seen during such incidents, even when advance warning is given.
Even when the safety services are present, they should not all the time able to coping with the militants. In one recent incident militants attacked a Catholic mission and were successfully driven off by the police. However, the police weren’t equipped to forestall the militants moving on to the market square and killing tons of of civilians.
Christopher Aweneghieme, a member of the CDC, was killed on the seminary. He had little likelihood of stopping the assault as a result of the massive numbers of attackers.
Bishop Gabriel Dunia of Auchi, speaking of the seminary kidnapping, said government representatives should come to the seminary: “They assured that they’d stay to guard the realm. But we haven’t seen any concrete motion to date.”
Speaking to Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need, the bishop said, “I call on everyone, every one, to come back to our aid, to wish for us, to make any effort – whatever it could be – material, spiritual or human – that helps us contain insecurity. Our local efforts are being overwhelmed.”
The bishop confirmed that the seminary is in touch with the abductors, via mediators within the hopes of recovering the three teenaged seminarians. While the church refuses to pay ransoms, previous kidnapping victims have been released after short stays in captivity, although others have been murdered.
The militants are believed to be from the Fulani ethnic group. Bishop Dunia added, “We don’t even know needless to say what they need. But we see a growing pattern of attacks directed against Christian communities and institutions.”
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