23rd September, 2015
Muslim Fulani herdsman have been blamed for a series of attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Plateau State last week – resulting in 38 deaths and displacing 5,000 people, according to Morning Star News. But the news service reports that authorities have not identified the assailants as Muslim Fulanis "in an effort to quell ethnic and religious violence".
Sources from the area told Morning Star News than more than 100 armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen attacked the Christian community of Kadunung on 16th September and, as well as killing 18 Christians and causing 5,000 to flee, destroyed 150 houses.
Titus Bise, chairman of the Mangu Local Government Council, said in a press statement that he was part of the team that recovered the bodies, noting that apart from the 18 known victims, it was suspected "there are more dead bodies in the bushes".
The 5,000 displaced residents of the village constitute a serious humanitarian problem, he added. “The situation of the displaced is worse because the rainy season is at its peak. Most of the displaced are living in the open, and the rains are here. That alone can increase the casualties if nothing is done fast.”
Charles Matoh, a Christian community leader in nearby Gindiri, said by phone many of the displaced are taking refuge there. “Many people have been killed, and among them is a man and his six children,” Matoh said.
Rev Dacholom Datiri, president of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), told Morning Star News that in spite of pleas from the church to the Nigerian government, such killings have continued unabated.
“We are again saddened that these killings and attacks on Christian communities, instead of being reduced, are on the increase almost on daily basis,” he said. “We still want to appeal that the government strive to put an end to these attacks on innocent people.”
The attacks on Kadunung followed an attack – again reportedly by armed Muslim Fulanis – two days earlier on seven Christian communities in Foron and Fan districts of the Barkin Ladi local government area. Morning Star News reports that sources said 17 Christians were killed and three others later died in the hospital from bullet wounds.
Rev Datiri said all 20 of the dead were members of his church.
“Reports we received from our pastors in the area have confirmed the killing of 20 more of our members,” he said. “We are saddened about these attacks, but hope that the government is able to act to put an end to these senseless killings of Christians in Plateau state.”
Istifanus Gyang, a member of the parliament in the Plateau State House of Assembly, confirmed the killings while speaking to journalists in Jos on 14th September.
“We have received again with shock the killings of 20 Christians in the early hours of today through violent attacks on seven villages of the Barkin-Ladi local government area,” Gyang said, expressing sadness that the attacks took place in spite of peace talks with Fulani herdsmen. “The renewed attacks are least expected at a time that concerted peace efforts and dialogue meetings are on-going between Berom and Fulani stakeholders.”
Morning Star News reports that Muslim Fulani herdsmen also launched attacks last week in Taraba State in northeast Nigeria. In the Christian community of Sarkin Kudu in the Ibi local government area, nine Christians were killed on 15th September.
Meanwhile a series of bomb blasts in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in northeast Nigeria, have reportedly killed more than 50 and injured more than 90 in a series of attacks believed to be the work of terror group Boko Haram.
– DAVID ADAMS (with Morning Star News)
