Islamist Fulani militants within the central Nigerian state of Plateau are continuing an anti-Christian killing spree that began with a devastating Christmas-time attack that left almost 200 Christians dead and tons of others injured.
On Feb. 18, six people were ambushed, with one killed and others injured, including a lady who was raped. Per week earlier, the militants attacked a Christian village with guns and machetes, killing 10 and injuring dozens. The campaign is occurring despite a multi-agency security operation within the region.
On the evening of Dec. 23, Fulani gunmen targeted some 20 Christian communities and dozens of churches within the predominantly Christian area of the country, which as a complete is greater than half Muslim. The terrorists, who’re aligned with the Islamist group Boko Haram, killed or maimed anyone in sight, slaughtered animals and burned down 1000’s of homes, displacing greater than 20,000 people. The mayhem lasted through the morning of Dec. 26.
Twenty-six-year-old Joseph Makut survived a gunshot wound to his right leg within the attack. “I didn’t have fun Christmas. The militants attacked my village of Mabor at midnight when my family and I were in a deep sleep,” the daddy of two said from his hospital bed at Jos University Teaching Hospital. “The gunmen broke our door and opened fire at us. We pretended to be dead, but my wife tried to crawl, and he or she was shot several times and died.”
Makut said the gunmen told them that they aimed to eliminate Christian communities within the central a part of the country.
“I do not think I’ll return to my village until my security is assured,” said Makut, bemoaning the insecurity that Christians face within the country, especially in Plateau. “The terrorists are determined to kill every Christian within the region, and that is making us live in fear because we now have already lost our family members.”
Nigeria, a West African nation of greater than 200 million people, has suffered terror attacks since 2009 when the violent extremist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State group in West Africa launched an insurgency aimed toward overthrowing Nigeria’s secular government and establishing an Islamic state. In 2011, the Fulani militants joined Boko Haram to escalate Islamism insurgency in northern and central Nigeria, targeting Christians.
At least 52,250 Nigerian Christians have been murdered for his or her faith, and 1000’s of churches have been destroyed, in response to the report from Intersociety, a democracy and human rights advocacy group founded in 2008.
Nigeria is now ranked number six on the World Watch List, Open Doors’ annual rating of the 50 countries where Christians face essentially the most extreme persecution. The research reveals that the country is one of the dangerous or difficult during which to be a Christian as violence against Christians is increasing.
Patricia Machen, one other survivor of the Christmas Eve attacks, said she was afraid of attending church services after terrorists burned her church in the course of the night attack and warned residents against praying.
“We are afraid to be Christians on this country, and we are actually not even going to church for the reason that attack happened,” said Machen, a 40-year-old mother of 4 from the Mangu community, one in every of dozens of ethnic groups in Plateau. “The terrorists found us praying contained in the church, they usually began shooting at us, and we needed to run and conceal. But unfortunately, they killed and injured a few of our members.”
Machen said the groups have spies in every Christian community that report back to them about religious activities happening within the communities. “For example, when we now have a prayer gathering, vigil or fasting in groups, the terrorists will know and strike. They will even send messages to warn residents against praying.”
Religious leaders have warned that the attacks are aimed toward creating conflict between Muslims and Christians within the hope of instigating a non secular war within the country.
“These individuals are terrorists, they usually aren’t fighting for any religion. But they wish to use religion to realize their goal of destabilizing the country and establishing an Islamic state,” said Moses Mashat, pastor of an evangelical Christian church. “I would like to induce the federal government to bring hope to the people by arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators and sponsors of those crimes happening across the country.”
The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh of the independent Christ Holy Church International, advised Nigerians to stay united despite the attacks.
“In times like these, Nigerians must come together and remain united despite the challenges they’re facing from terrorist gangs,” said Okoh. “We can only defeat terrorists once we are together as a rustic, and I urge Nigerians to proceed praying to the Almighty God to guard our country from future attacks.”
Meanwhile, survivors, most of them sheltered in 23 camps arrange by the Red Cross in Plateau, are desperately awaiting aid as they proceed to mourn their family members.
“We don’t have anything to eat because we lost the whole lot, including our farm produce and livestock,” said Machen, noting that they lack basic needs, resembling food, water, shelter, clothing, blankets and medical aid. “We are urging the federal government and well-wishers to return to our aid because we’re suffering and, at the identical time, mourning.”
© Religion News Service
