Attacks on Nigerian Villages Leave Seven Dead and Many Displaced
08/30/2018 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Fulani militants raided several villages in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria on August 28. As a result, seven people were killed, including three children and a pastor. These individuals were Rev. Adamu Gyang Wurim (pastor of COCIN LCC Shonong), his wife and three children, Mr. Pam Dusu, and Aaron Yakubu.
The villages attacked included Werre, Abonong, Ziyat, Bek, Nafan, Sagast, Rawuru, and Rambuh in the Ropp, Foron, and Fan Districts.
In confirming the incident, Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, a local lawyer, visited the scenes of the incidents and interviewed Mr. Gyang Adamu, one of the three surviving children of the pastor. He said, “I’m a 300 level civil engineering student at University of Jos. I was in school when the incident happened. I got to know about the attack when I saw a post on Facebook that Abonong village, [my home], was under attack. Immediately, I placed several calls trying to get in touch with my family members, but none rang through. When I called a friend to find out about the situation, the report I received was very devastating; I couldn’t believe that all my family members have been engulfed in the pogrom. On reaching home, I saw my daddy and younger ones burnt beyond recognition. The sight of the gory incident broke me down.” He continued, “The three of us left don’t know what to do, especially now that we are still students who have nothing to hold on [to].”
Mr. Gwom Pam Dusu, a financial secretary of the Roman Catholic Church of Ziyat village, shared, “We were going out for surveillance, having received local security information about an impending attack planned by Fulani herdsmen with their hired mercenary. We heard heavy gunfire all over Ziyat and other neighboring villages.” When asked whether the security information gathered was forwarded to security agents, Mr. Gwom responded affirmatively, saying, “Security personnel stationed at Bek of Foron District didn’t do anything to avert the terror attacks.”
The attack lasted for over four hours before security personnel arrived on scene. This was well after the attackers had razed much of the villages of Abonong and Ziyat, and looted valuables such as mattresses, food, electronics, and domestic animals. Three churches were targeted during these attacks.
Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, said, “This continued fight in an area known to have many attacks is astounding. The fact that the government allows the continued destruction and killing of its villages and citizens shows a lack of care or ability. If this continues, there will have to be international intervention or else Nigeria may devolve into a major civil war.”
For interviews with Nathan Johnson, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org
