Abuja, NigeriaJanuary 8, 2024 (christian daily international–morning star news)
Suspected Fulani terrorists killed 41 Christians and kidnapped many others in two counties in southern Nigeria's Kaduna state on Wednesday (January 3), sources said.
Sunday Iswa, a local resident, said the attackers attacked Dokhan Karji, Unguwan Sako and Kunklai villages in Dawaki district of Kauru district and Gefe village of Kajuru district in the early morning hours.
“The attack in Kauru claimed the lives of 17 Christians and the attack in Kajuru claimed the lives of 24 Christians,” Iswa told Morning Star News in a text message.
“Terrorists with deadly weapons entered the area and killed children, women, men and elderly people who were unable to escape from their attackers,” Samaira Musa, another resident, said in a text message.
Pastor Joseph John Hayabu, Chairman of the Kaduna State branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said in a press statement on Friday, January 5, that the attack was “the work of evil bandits and terrorists who attacked us”. said. Continue to be relentless in our community. ”
“We appeal to the Kaduna State governor and the Nigerian security agencies to show no mercy and ensure these wrongdoers face the wrath of our laws,” Hayabu said.
Police confirmed the attack and said officers were working to contain it.
Aminu Khalid, a former Dawaki district councilor, told Nigerians. news outlet punch The attackers reportedly entered the community on foot and took up advantageous positions.
“Terrorists always come from parts of Kajur forest and Kachia forest where the camps are located,” Khalid told Punch. “The camp is located at Dassen Magguna in Kajuru local government area of the state.”
He added that although the Nigerian military raided the terrorist camp, neighboring communities will never experience peace.
According to Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report, Nigeria led the world in the number of Christians killed for their faith in 2022 with 5,014. It also had the highest number of abductions of Christians (4,726 people), sexual assault and harassment, forced marriage, and physical and psychological abuse, and the highest number of attacks on homes and businesses for religious reasons. As in previous years, Nigeria had the second highest number of church attacks and internally displaced persons.
On the 2023 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to become a Christian, Nigeria has risen to a record 6th place, up from 7th place the previous year.
“Armed groups such as the Fulani, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are attacking Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping, and kidnapping for ransom and sexual slavery,” WWL reports. The book pointed out. “This year, the violence also spilled over into the Christian-majority south of the country. Violations of Christian rights continue with impunity as the Nigerian government continues to deny that this is religious persecution. It’s been done.”
The millions of mainly Muslim Fulani people in Nigeria and the Sahel region are made up of hundreds of clans of various lineages that do not hold extremist views, although some Fulani do have extremist views. Islamist ideology, the UK's All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom, or 2020 Featured Beliefs (APPG) report.
“They have adopted strategies comparable to Boko Haram and ISWAP, and have demonstrated a clear intent to target Christians and powerful symbols of Christian identity,” the APPG report said.
Nigeria's Christian leaders say pastoralist attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt, where desertification has made it difficult to maintain herds, have led to forcible occupation of Christian lands and Islamic He said he believed it was inspired by their desire to impose their religion.
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Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Omersukrugoksu
Originally published by Morningstar News. Used with permission.
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