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| Terrorist kill Christian couple in Taraba, Nigeria |
In the early hours of Sunday, September 10, a senseless act of violence struck the town of Taraba in Nigeria, leaving two innocent Christians dead, several others wounded, and six people taken as hostages. The incident, carried out by terrorists, has once again cast a dark shadow over the region.
Emmanuel Moses, a resident of the Mile Six area of Jalingo, conveyed the grim news, stating, "Six Christians were kidnapped by terrorists in the Mile Six area of Jalingo. These terrorists, too, killed two Christians, one Balanko Alex and his wife, while many other Christians were injured during the attack." John Hussaini, another local resident, confirmed this tragic event and added that just two days prior, on September 8, two more Christians were abducted on Takum Road between Manya and Gangum.
Abdullahi Usman, the spokesman for the Taraba State Police Command, provided an official account of the incident. He stated, "The gunmen gained access to the house of the victims scaling over the fence. They killed the owner of the house, Balanko Alex, and his wife, and kidnapped other persons. The police command has put in place mechanisms to fast-track the arrest of the bandits and kidnappers."
This incident adds to the growing list of atrocities faced by Christians in Nigeria. The country garnered international attention for leading the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with a staggering 5,014 reported cases, according to Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. Nigeria also topped the charts for Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married, or physically and mentally abused. It witnessed the highest number of attacks on homes and businesses for faith-based reasons and had the second-highest number of church attacks and internally displaced people.
In the latest edition of the World Watch List, Nigeria climbed to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from its previous position at No. 7. The report highlights the disturbing pattern of violence perpetrated by militant groups such as Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and others targeting Christian communities. These acts include killings, maiming, rape, and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery.
The report also notes the unsettling trend of this violence spilling over into the Christian-majority southern regions of Nigeria. Despite mounting evidence of religious persecution, the Nigerian government continues to deny the gravity of the situation, allowing these violations of Christians' rights to persist with impunity.
It's important to note that not all Fulani herdsmen adhere to extremist views. However, some have adopted radical Islamist ideologies, as highlighted in a 2020 report by the United Kingdom's All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG). This report states, "They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity."
Christian leaders in Nigeria believe that the attacks by herdsmen on Christian communities in the Middle Belt are motivated by their desire to forcibly take over Christian lands and impose Islam. The challenges posed by desertification have made it difficult for them to sustain their herds, intensifying these conflicts.
In the face of such senseless violence, the global community must unite to condemn these acts and support efforts to bring an end to the suffering endured by Nigerian Christians. The need for intervention and justice has never been more urgent.
