Scores Of Christians Killed In Nigeria Ahead Of Christmas
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
ABUJA (Worthy News) – Christians in northwestern Nigeria faced a bloodstained Christmas after Islamic gunmen killed scores of Christian villagers, residents and authorities said.
The December 18-21 attacks in predominantly Christian areas of Nigeria’s Kaduna state were carried out by Islamic Fulani herdsmen and “other terrorists,” explained Christians.
Most of the violence rocked the predominantly Christian Malagum and Abun villages in the Kaura County, said Luka Biniyat, spokesman for the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) group in the state.
He said armed men shot people and burned at least 100 houses, reportedly killing at least 38 people.
“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of loss that we announce the gruesome mass murder of not less than 38 harmless, unarmed villagers,” Biniyat explained. “The killings, which lasted long, started around 11 p.m. Sunday night. Not only were these poor innocent citizens killed, but not less than 100 houses were also razed, with some victims burned alive.”
Biniyat added that 46 people in all had been killed in unprovoked attacks in Kaduna in recent days and that volunteers were searching for missing persons.
Resident Jasen Joseph told reporters that the attackers killed some people with machetes. “I lost many friends, uncles, parents, and mentors in this place. If you go down there, the two streets, you will see corpses everywhere.”
Christians say Islamic fighters, including Fulani herdsmen and other groups, have attacked hundreds of local communities across northwestern Nigeria in recent years.
Islamist militants also continue to stage attacks in the northeast, several sources said.
Nigeria’s government has come under mounting pressure to improve the protection of Christians who faced relentless attacks by Islamist fighters opposing Christianity and related groups.
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