Abuja, NigeriaJanuary 22, 2024 (christian daily international–morning star news)
The governor of Nigeria's Kaduna state has called on church leaders after the pace of terrorist killings in Christian areas has increased since September, with 25 people killed in the first two weeks of January, officials said. I had a meeting with
James Bitrus, a Christian leader from Chief Donata Dam in Christian-majority Kagaruko district in southern Kaduna state, said Muslim terrorists had killed more than 100 Christians in the area in the past four months.
“In fact, these attacks worsened from September to January of this year,” Bitlas told Christian Daily International Morningstar News. “Many people have been forced to flee their communities since November. Farmers are unable to go to their farms. This is in addition to around 100 additional Christians killed in the past four months. is.”
He said terrorists killed 25 Christians in the first half of January and also kidnapped more than 100 Christians.
“These figures do not include those abducted in the past year,” said Bitlas, head of Dnata, headquartered in the town of Gzheni.
Bitrus said on Tuesday (January 16) that he and other Christian leaders met with Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and heads of security agencies following protests against terrorism in the state. He later spoke to the Christian Daily International Morning Star News.
Sani, who took office in May, told leaders that the purpose of the meeting was how to curb the recent attacks in Kauru, Kajuru, Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Chikun, Kachia, Kagaruko and Kaduna-Abuja road areas. He said the idea was to brainstorm ideas. He admitted that parts of the state have become enclaves for terrorist activities.
“Recent events along this axis clearly indicate that the front line along that route has been reopened, and this requires renewed focus and coordination,” he said, according to a copy of his remarks obtained by Christian Daily International. “This strongly demonstrates the need for.” Morning Star News. “Bandits and terrorists often exploit openings around villages, especially around Maganda, Kuyero, Buruku, Udawa, Dumba, Kuriga, Polewire and other flashpoints, to ambush civilians and security forces attempting to respond to distress calls. ing. “
Chikun, Giwa and Igabi are also said to be areas of concern.
“Similarly, in the Kaur general area, we have witnessed a resurgence of deadly attacks and kidnappings in recent weeks around Dokan Kharji, which stretches across Kajuru, and around Katia in Bisini general area,” Sani said. Stated.
Bitrus told Christian Daily International Morning Star News that there was an urgent need for the Nigerian government to check terrorist activities in the region.
“Six Christians were kidnapped on Saturday, January 13, in Malabang Idda area, and until this moment the abductees remain in captivity,” he said.
He said many Christians in the Gida Biyu village area were also kidnapped.
“Every day and night, Christians are attacked by terrorists and their villages are attacked,” Bittles said. “We complained to the government and security authorities about our plight, but nothing was resolved.”
According to him, Islamic terrorists have set up enclaves in areas such as the Kajur Forest.
“Security agencies are aware of this, but nothing is being done to curb terrorist activities against our communities,” Bitlas said. “We call on Kaduna State and the Nigerian government to cooperate with each other to save us from the threat of annihilation posed by terrorist attacks. We appeal for the establishment of a military base in the region.”
With more Christian kidnappings than any other country – 3,300 – Nigeria remains the most dangerous place for followers of Christ, from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. It is reported that 4,118 people were killed for their faith. Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List (WWL) Report.
According to the report, Nigeria was also the country with the third highest number of attacks on Christian buildings such as churches, hospitals, schools and cemeteries, with 750 attacks.
In the 2024 WWL ranking of countries where it is most difficult to become a Christian, Nigeria was ranked 6th, just as it was last year.
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 are adopting strategies comparable to Boko Haram and ISWAP.” [Islamic State West Africa Province] and demonstrates a clear intent to target powerful symbols of Christians and 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 provided: Morning Star News/Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani. (Creative Commons)/Canva Pro/ Alessandro 0770 from Getty Images
Originally published by Morningstar News. Used with permission.
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