A Nigerian think tank aims to document the ongoing violence of persecution against Christians
Continued from LAST WEEK
In its analysis, the Kukah Centre stated that “Attacks in north-central states have been prevalent because they are Christian majority states. The narrative is that Christians in these states are targeted to usurp their rich and fertile lands but also as a strategy to take hold of their resources.” It discovered that “In the northwest, there is a rise in banditry and silent, non-violent persecution of indigenous Hausa Christians as well as Christians who have settled in the region for civil service and business” bringing it to “a total of 127 persons [who] were killed by armed Fulani bandits” within the period. Comparatively, it noted that “the number of persons killed is highest in the northeast, which suggests that activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP, Fulani herdsmen and bandits have a huge impact on the lives of victims. In the north-central part, herdsmen continue to attack indigenous farmers with little or no help from security operatives.” In its analysis of the period between June and September 2022, the center observed that, “although there are variations according to the three regions in terms of who the perpetrators of these atrocities are, the major victims are Christians and minority groups. Similarly, the mode of operations and the motives behind these attacks are identical.”
Displacement of Persons, Destruction of Households
Between February and May 2022, according to the report, “about 200 houses were burnt on Sunday 20th March 2022 from the attack by suspected Fulani militia in Agban in Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State.” In same state, “bandits attacked and displaced people from the following villages – Tama I, Zangon Tama II, Dillalai, Igaga, Unguwar Bakko, Barere, Tsaunin Mayo, Gidan Gajere, Unguwar Gona, Hayin Kauwa, Unguwar Dan galadima and Zagezage.” The report indicated that “these villages had over 5000 people who were living in them, who have all been displaced by the bandits as of the time of filing this report.” According to the report, “violence erupted in Warji town, headquarters of Warji Local Government Area of Bauchi State, on 20 May 2022 following an alleged blasphemous statement against Islam by a 40-year-old lady, Rhoda Jatau, a staff of the health department of the local government council” which “resulted in the burning of 13 houses and the destruction of shops belonging to Christians.” In Kaduna “suspected terrorists attacked 6 communities in Giwa Local Government during which houses, and cars were burnt, and cattle were also rustled” the report highlighted stressing that “The police in the state were still investigating and accounting for the number of casualties, affected persons, and properties destroyed.” ‘Scores of Christians killed, others displaced’ – Nigerian think tank builds ‘atrocities database’ A Nigerian think tank aims to document the ongoing violence of persecution against Christians In a June 20, 2022 attack on Madagali ward in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State, ISWAP displaced “a total of 665 individuals from 133 households” the report highlighted. The June 1 – Sept. 30, 2022 report showed that while “not less than 120,000 persons including women and children have been displaced by bandits in some communities of Ussa and Takum LGA of Taraba state,” a similar humanitarian crisis occurred in North-western Nigeria where “thousands have been forced to flee their homes due to the violent activities of bandits and Fulani herdsmen.” According to the report, in the June – September period of 2022, there were “violent attacks of nonstate actors (ISWAP and Boko Haram) in Northeast Nigeria led to the death of 154 persons while in the north-central [Plateau and Benue], attacks on indigenous Christian farmers by Fulani herdsmen led to the death of 64 persons” according to the documentation. Within the same period, there 20 incidents of attacks across 4 states of the Northeast, 11 incidents in 3 states of the north-central, and 23 occurred in 6 states in the northwest.
‘Forceful conversions, denial of jobs and freedom of worship’
Findings indicate that “the persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria is consistently carried out in a coordinated form …This is even worse in Northcentral Nigeria occupied by a large number of Christians” and that “responses from the government at all levels have been poor…the government is found to have been complacent which suggests that these attacks will continue unabated.” According to the NGO, “Largely, Fulani herdsmen activities in the Northcentral region are a form of terrorism aimed at killing Christians and not a conflict between Christian indigenous farmers.” It maintained that “contrary to popular opinion and the news circulating in the media, the attacks on Christian communities are attributed to different factors, religion continues to play a significant role in the sustenance of conflict in Northern Nigeria. Christians have been disproportionately targeted both in terms of marginalization, exclusion, and physical violence.” The Kukah Centre reported that, “a member of the vigilante group in Zango Kataf and survivor of a terrorist attack, whose name is withheld for security reasons, narrated that the terrorists who attacked his community were seen in Hilux vans shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ while shooting.” In the attack, “about 42 persons were killed and over 300 houses were razed. The attacks did not in any way suggest that it was a conflict between Fulani herdsmen and indigenous farmers.” Another survivor who gave an eyewitness account said, “we are talking about over 1200-armed persons. While the attack was going on, we ran to the priest and begged him to leave the village, but he refused, asking why he would run and leave his people. They succeeded in taking the priest around 6 pm. By the time the priest was taken, the bandits had killed over 40 people.”
In Benue state, “no fewer than 23 persons have been killed by suspected Fulani herders in the Mbadwem and Tiortyu communities of Guma and Tiortyu Local Government Areas. The attack which occurred on Monday, 11th April 2022, came barely after two weeks when 3 persons, including a pastor, were murdered by the same Fulani herdsmen on 29th March 2022, at Waku village. Pastor John Torbee Ajav was shot by Fulani herdsmen on his way to attend a religious function in Gbajimba LGA” the report said. The governor of the Benue state, Simon Ortom, described attacks in the state as “ethnic cleansing of the Tiv nation [who are predominantly Christians] by Fulani Muslims,” and blamed the government for neglecting his people. “We have cried for help against these invaders, but nothing is forthcoming…We are left alone, and it looks like it is a deliberate strategy. Now we have only one option; to defend ourselves or get extinct,” Ortom said. The report indicated that “the attacks on Christian communities in parts of Northcentral Nigeria have little or nothing to do with clashes between indigenous farmers and Fulani. This narrative is projected to stifle the religious persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria.” Also, “Christians in Northwest Nigeria are victims of mob actions often tagged as blasphemy which has led to the deaths of many. Reports show that between 2019 and 2020, more than 190 people were murdered extra-judicially in Sokoto. This is similar in some other parts of northwest Nigeria like Kano. “For instance, in June 2016, an angry mob in Kano beheaded a Christian, Bridget Agbahwe for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Mohammed.
It was reported that Bridget, 74 years old, who was a trader in domestic plastic wares at Wambai market in Kano had a disagreement bordering on religion with some traders. The angry mob decided to behead her and attempted to kill her husband” the document stated. It cited “the most recent of this mob action was the killing of a Christian lady, Deborah Yakubu from Repa Local Government Area of Kebbi State, an N.C.E 2 student under the Department of Home Economics. Deborah was stoned and burnt to death by some aggressive Muslim coursemates for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Mohammad. This happened on 12th May 2022.” It lamented that “forceful conversion of persons to Islam is ongoing in some communities in the Northwest.” For instance, “in Rano Local Government Area of Kano, a twelve-year-old girl was taken away from her guardians by the Hisbah (an Islamic Security Association) and converted into Islam because her guardians punished her for stealing. Two other similar cases have been taken up by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and were in court at the time of compiling this report.” The NGO observed that “Christian minorities are denied jobs and freedom of worship, and the government has deliberately refused to provide basic amenities to Christian communities.” An interview with a Hausa-Christian in Kano revealed that Christian minorities in the state are victims of persecution in the aspect of state employment, religious freedom, and the provision of basic amenities. He decried the level of persecution they face when he lamented that, “Christians in some local governments in kano are facing challenges to freedom of worship, we have a series of reports on attacks on our people in their places of worship. Local governments like Sumaila, Kibiya Garko, and others have experienced many trials regarding their faith.” Attacks by Boko Haram, ISAWP, Fulani herdsmen, bandits and unknown gunmen caused 154 deaths the north-eastern region especially Borno state, epicenter of the violence within the second quarter, the documentation noted. Christian leaders as ‘targets of kidnapping’ According to the Kukah Centre’s report, Christian religious leaders have become targets of kidnapping with 80% happening in the Northeast where, Fr. Stephen Ojapah
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