01/08/2019 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – The Christian community of Dogo Awo village, located in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, has been devastated by years of Fulani militant violence. The village has been attacked by Fulani militants repeatedly starting in November 2016 to as recently as last Wednesday, January 2.
In a recent interview with Morning Star News, the Christians of Dogo Awo explained that the violence started on November 25, 2016 when Fulani militants destroyed their rice, beans, peppers and other crops. The incident was reported to local police, but no action was taken against the militants.
Emboldened by this impunity, the Fulani militants returned during the harvest season of 2017, again destroying Dogo Awo’s crops. Again the attack was reported to police to no effect.
On November 26, 2018, the militants again returned to Dogo Awo, but this time they attacked both the community’s crops and people. Ladi Yakubu, a 49-year-old Christian resident of Dogo Awo, lost her husband, Yakubu Musa.
For many Christians in Dogo Awo, the ceaseless violence has displaced them from their homes and farms. Many have left Dogo Awo to seek shelter and security elsewhere.
For the few that remain in Dogo Awo, life is dangerous and difficult. “All our crops have been destroyed, and it is not even safe for us to venture out to even glean on these farms,” Ladi Yakubu told Morning Star News. “Because of this, I find it difficult to provide food to [my] six children.”
Christians across Nigeria’s Middle Belt region continue to be effected by Fulani militants. Reports estimate that as many as 6,000 have been killed by the militants in 2018 alone.
For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
