Thousands Flee as Islamic Militants Threaten Bloodbath in Nigeria

ICC Note: Islamic militants under the banner of Boko Haram are threatening to continue their killing streak after killing at least two Christians in recent days. Thousands are fleeing for fear of continued violence. Sadly there is little sign that Boko Haram’s reign of terror throughout Nigeria and the targeted killing of Christians is set to end anytime soon without much more dramatic intervention. 
6/22/2013 Nigeria (CIC) – Nigerian Islamic militants have threatened a massive bloodbath after killing at least two Christians in recent days, forcing thousands of people to flee their villages along Nigeria’s northeast, refugees said Saturday June 22.
The reported threats came as local believers were mourning Christian Toma Vongjen, 40, who was reportedly killed by Fulani Muslims in attacks that also left church buildings in four villages in Plateau state completely destroyed.
The June 18 violence in Wase area, 216 kilometers (134 miles) southeast of Jos city, came days after other militants of the group Boko Haram, or ‘Western education is a sin’, killed a pastor and torched four churches in Borno state, residents said.
Reverend Jacob Kwiza was killed in the state’s Mandara Hills area after he refused to renounce his faith in Christ, said local villager Tada Garuta. “The gunmen threw some explosives at our church, they forced the retired reverend to renounce Christianity and be converted to Islam. But the pastor defied the gunmen’s threat of being killed,” Garuta told media.
“After he refused to renounce his faith. They slit his throat with sharp objects; and we started to flee for safety, as we don’t know the next targets of these gunmen.”
The murder came as Boko Haram fighters attacked the Hwa’a, Kunde, Gathahure and Gjigga settlements by night, fire bombing four churches while chanting “Allahu Akbar” or “Allah is Great”, Nigerian media reported.
Boko Haram attacks were apparently in revenge for the reported destruction of the group’s bases by the Nigerian military in the nearby Sambisa Games Reserve.
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