Nigeria ‘Bandits’ Attack Churches Killing 3; Dozens Abducted

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

ABUJA (Worthy News) – Dozens of Christians remained missing Tuesday after armed persons attacked churches in Nigeria’s northwest Kaduna state, killing at least three people while abducting a pastor and some 30 worshippers, Christians said.

Sunday’s attacks in the Bakinpah-Maro community of Kaduna’s KajuruLocal Government Area were carried out by so-called “bandits” who experts say often have ties to Muslim extremist groups.

Officials said a large group of criminals carrying guns arrived around 10 am local time. Several were seen shooting or otherwise attacking a church of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) denomination and a Catholic church in the area.

A pastor of one of the churches, Bernard Gajera, was among those kidnapped, Worthy News learned.

The violence came two days after Nigeria’s army rescued 13 hostages who were kidnapped in Kaduna state following a military operation prompted by a tip-off, a government official said.

After receiving information that the kidnappers were about to relocate the six men and seven women, the military reportedly launched an operation at a camp near Chigulu village in the Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

Following a gun battle, “the bandits” fled into the nearby forest and abandoned their captives, Kaduna’s security commissioner Samuel Aruwan added in a statement.

MORE KIDNAPPINGS

The operation at the camp also led to the discovery of weapons, ammunition, solar panels, and cash, officials said.

Kidnappings in northern Nigeria, particularly in schools and on highways, have become frequent as criminal gangs seek ransom payments.

Abductions often force families to sell land cattle and grain to secure the release of their loved ones.

Christians are among those targeted as bandits increasingly cooperate with Islamic groups seeking to establish shariah (Islamic) law and other Muslim fighters, according to experts.

“A synergy between armed bandits and jihadists would lead to more civilian deaths, displacement, and destruction of property,” warned Folahanmi Aina, an international security and development policy expert.

“It could attract more foreign terrorist fighters, too, given Nigeria’s porous borders, who would be keen on recruiting combat-ready terrorists for armed conflict across the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel regions,” he wrote in an assessment for King’s College London obtained by Worthy News.

“This also has serious implications for external state actors such as the United States, France, and the European Union in the long run. That’s because the activities of terrorists in the region could jeopardize their economic interests.”

GOVERNMENT ROLE

To avert this, “the federal government of Nigeria must act fast. It must intensify covert action to disrupt the potential consolidation of partnerships between armed bandits and jihadist groups,” he added.

The advice comes as more believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world combined, according to researchers.

Last year alone, more than 8,000 Christians were killed, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has said.

“Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Muslim-majority north, continue to live under immense pressure and to be terrorized with devastating impunity by Islamic militants and armed “bandits,” confirmed advocacy group Open Doors.
Nigeria ranks 6th on the Open Doors annual World Watch List of 50 nations where it says Christians suffer most for their faith in Christ.

“The attacks are often brutal in nature and can involve destruction of properties, abductions for ransom, sexual violence, and death. Believers are stripped of their livelihoods and driven from their homes, leaving a trail of grief and trauma,” Open Doors added.

Violence by Islamic extremist groups such as Fulani militants, Boko Haram, and ISWAP (Islamic State in West African Province) increased during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, Christians said.

That has been “putting Nigeria at the epicenter of targeted violence against the church. The government’s failure to protect Christians and punish perpetrators has only strengthened the militants’ influence,” Open Doors warned.

Sunday’s attacks against churches underscored that trend in Africa’s most populous nation of some 230 million people.

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