Abuja, Nigeria
(christian daily international–morning star news
Sources said on Thursday (December 28) unidentified terrorists killed eight Christians in Nigeria's Taraba state, a week after 13 were killed the previous week.
Residents said the attackers attacked four predominantly Christian villages in Oussa district around 4 p.m.
“Muslim terrorists attacked the villages of Kpambo, Fikyu, Kpambo Yashe and Kpambo Kuli while we were still celebrating Christmas, an event that reminds us of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ,” Rami Rami said. John told Christian Daily International Morning. Star News by text message. “Eight Christians were killed in these attacks and most of the Christian homes were destroyed by the terrorists.”
John, the victim of the attack, said he fled the village as the attackers shot and killed everyone in sight and set houses on fire.
Another local resident, Brus Andeyake, said the eight Christians killed were farmers.
“Most Christian farmers are unable to go to their farms to harvest their crops because terrorists are hiding in the bushes and killing Christians they find working on their farms,” Andeyake said in a text message. ” he said. “It is dangerous for us to go to the farms. In Oussa local government area, many Christians were killed by Muslim terrorists.”
Last week, 13 Christian farmers were killed in the village of Jenuwagida in Oussa district, he said.
In a press statement on Friday, December 29, Taraba State Member of Parliament, Likupuki Urenyan Joshua, said the toll is increasing due to continued attacks. resulted in death Over the past few years, the number of Christians in Oussa County has increased by more than 500.
“Killers continue to enter from Cameroon through border communities and attack our vulnerable communities,” he said.
He said the Nigerian government and security agencies were not taking proactive steps to prevent attacks by terrorists. “The Federal Government of Nigeria is requested to deploy military forces to the affected communities to curb terrorist activities.”
Nigeria's Parliament, the region's senator, David Jimukuta, also said on Friday (December 29) that hundreds of people had been killed and more than 50 villages destroyed in three months in Ossa and Takum counties.
“It is quite sad that a total of 50 villages in Ussa and Takum local government areas have been left in ruins due to attacks on Christians by terrorists,” Zimkuta said. “Unfortunately, our security agencies seem to be pretending they don't know where these terrorists are to be found. Let us wipe out the terrorists from the enclave.”
He said a state of emergency should be declared in Takum and Oussa regions.
“Such a declaration would pave the way for important steps to be taken that would allow Christians who survived the genocide to return to their lands and begin rebuilding their lives,” Zimkuta said. .
On December 24, two Christians were reported to have been kidnapped by terrorists. Local resident Lyn Ada identified them as Ishaya Dimas Dilla, a former council official, and the other only as Begwa.
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. They also have the highest number of Christians in the world who have been kidnapped (4,726), sexually assaulted and harassed, forced into marriage, and physically and emotionally abused, and have the highest number of attacks on their homes and businesses for reasons of faith. There were many. 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 herdsmen's attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt are forcing them to occupy Christian lands and converting Islam into a country where desertification makes it difficult to maintain herds. He said he believed it was inspired by a desire to impose.
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Photo courtesy of Taraba State House of Assembly member Likupuki Urenyan Joshua. (Facebook rikupkiofficial) via Morning Star News/Omerskurgokus from Getty Images signature Via CanvaPro
Originally published by Morningstar News. Used with permission.
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