Armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen in northeast Nigeria killed a pastor and 19 other Christians on 27th February in apparent retaliation for attacks by ethnic Bachama militia on Fulani families, sources said.
Rev Haruna Enoch was killed along with the others in herdsmen attacks on four predominantly Christian areas in the Numan and Demsa areas of Adamawa state, area residents said.
The killings reportedly came in retaliation for an unspecified attack on Fulani families by young men from the predominantly Christian Bachama tribe who have formed militias in response to violence by Islamic extremist group Boko Haram and heavily-armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen. Tit-for-tat violence between Fulani herdsmen and Bachama militia in recent months has resulted in scores of killings, including women and children.
The anti-Christian dimension of the tribal conflict is prominent in Adamawa state as it is in tribal conflicts in other parts of Nigeria, according to rights groups and Christian leaders.
Sam Zadock, spokesperson for the People’s Democratic Party and a member of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, was among those slain in an ambush by the herdsmen last week, area residents told Morning Star News. Area resident Margaret Inusa Habu said in a text message that Mr Zadock was stricken with machete blows.
The names of the remaining Christians were not readily available, but local Christians told Morning Star News that they were members of either the LCCN or the Roman Catholic Church. They said an attack on Gwamba village began at about 6:30pm on 27th February.
Area resident Tada Miwa informed Morning Star News by text messages that her brother narrowly escaped.
“My brother was with them [other victims of the attacks], but God speared him,” she wrote. “As of yesterday [Tuesday], his whereabout wasn’t known, but thank God he is now back home [in Numan]. It is well with us in Numan. God has seen our tears and heard our cry. He will surely deliver us from all evil.”
After troops deployed in the Numan area later captured six of the assailants and killed 10 other herdsmen in a firefight at Gwamba village, the army reportedly recovered from the herdsmen an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, a locally made rifle with 25 cartridges, a cutlass, looted clothes and a motorcycle.
Nigerian army officials in a press statement on Wednesday confirmed this week’s attacks on Christian communities in Adamawa state.
“Troops deployed in the Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa state swiftly responded to a distress call and supported troops at Gwamba village, which was under attack by herdsmen on Tuesday,” said Brigadier General Texas Chukwu. “Despite the swift reaction to rescue the village from destruction, the notorious herdsmen set the village ablaze before troops could get to the community.”
Police in Yola also confirmed the attacks on the Christian communities.
Christians make up 51.3 per cent of Nigeria’s population, while Muslims living primarily in the north and middle belt account for 45 per cent.
Nigeria ranked 14th on Open Doors’ 2018 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution.
