*4020 Christians killed, 2315 abducted in Nigeria between January and October 2022- Intersociety
807 members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Kasuwan Magani district church council (DCC) in, Kajuru local government of Kaduna state were abducted between January and November 2022, TheCable reports.
Speaking at a media briefing, on Thursday, the chairman of ECWA,Kasuwan Magani DCC, Timothy Maigida, said ECWA churches in Kajuru LGA have been under constant attack by bandits.
Maida said, “In 2016 when the terrorism and kidnapping for ransom started, 38 people were abducted in all. Eight of the victims were killed, and the remaining were released after the payment of ransom,” he said.
“In 2017, the number of people killed was 35. 2018, a crisis erupted in Kasuwan Magani market on October 10, 2018. That single incident claimed the lives of 286 identified locals that went to the market that day.
“That was apart from those from outside the local government that was not identified.
“The following day, 19/10/2018, the late Agom Adara, HRH (Dr.) Maiwada Raphael Galadima was ambushed, abducted, and later murdered.
“In 2019, we lost 196 members to armed bandits in an attack on churches in six communities.
“We have suffered and still suffering both the kidnapping and killing of our people. From January to November, 807 people were abducted by bandits.”
Maida said following the turbulence that the church has been experiencing, they have scheduled to hold a service for sober reflection on December 10.
“It is given all these devastations that we as a church and people have endured, that we have decided to hold a sober reflection service on 10th December 2022 in Kasuwan Magani and bring in people within and outside Kaduna that would help us to rebuild our homes, churches, and communities,” he said.
Intersociety report on Christian deaths, abductions
Image:Pexel
The ECWA revelation is coming in the wake of a report published on November, 7,2022 by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety detailing the number of Christians killed by terrorists in Nigeria from January to October 2022.
In the report signed by the group's principal officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi,
Chinwe Umeche,Chidinma Udegbunam, and Ndidiamaka Bernard, Intersociety revealed that 4020 Christians have been killed by Jihadist terrorists in Nigeria from January to October 2022 while 2,315 were abducted.
The report said Benue and Taraba states have the highest number with 463 and 450 Christian deaths respectively, Kaduna 395, Niger 314, Plateau 312, and Borno 240.
In the South East, 400 persons were abducted from January to October at Umunneochi, Isi-Uzo, Isiukwuato, and Igbo-Eze.
The report entitled, "4020 Christians slaughtered and 2,315 abducted between January and October 2022 said, "The past ten months of 2022 or January to October had seen no fewer than 4020 defenseless Christians slaughtered in Nigeria by the country’s Islamic terror Jihadists with the most atrocious and barbarous being the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and their regionally assembled allied Islamic terror groups which jointly accounted for 2,650 of the 4020 total Christian deaths.
"Other culpable Jihadist terror groups are ISWAP, Boko Haram, and Ansaru accounting for 450 Christian deaths, and the Jihadist Fulani (Zamfara) Bandits and their splinters responsible for 370 Christian deaths.
"The Nigerian Government friendly armed Jihadist groups particularly Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and Jihadist Fulani (Zamfara) Bandits had also during the period under review abducted not less than 2,315 defenseless Christians; with 1401 abducted between January and June 2022 and 915 abducted between July and Oct 2022.
"Out of the 2,315 abducted Christians, 10% or 231 have circumstantially been found to be incapable of returning alive to their families, having most likely been killed in captivity for their refusal to convert to Islam or inability to pay huge ransoms demanded.
"The 4020 Christian deaths in ten months further indicated 402 Christian deaths per month and 13 deaths per day. In the area of the 2,315 Christian abductions in ten months of 2022, it amounted to 231 Christian abductions per month and approximately eight abductions per day."
Christians on the run in Taraba and Niger states
Intersociety said, "It has been investigated and found by Intersociety that Taraba State had come under ferocious, widespread, and unchecked jihadist attacks since January 2022, resulting in the killing of no fewer than 450 Christians.
"Between January and July, over 300 Christians were slaughtered by the combined forces of ISWAP, terror Bandits, and Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen who launched fiercest attacks in over 40 predominant Christian villages, killing hundreds and displacing over 120,000 others.
"This is to the extent that over 30 Christians were slaughtered between July 5 and 12 and between June and July 2022, over 60 Christians were slaughtered. The predominant Christian communities worst affected are those under Takum/Donga/Ussa/Yangtu Federal Constituency.
"This is according to Hon. Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, a Member Representing the area in the House of Representatives. The Christian parts of Niger State including Shiroro, Munya and Rafi, Mariga, and Lapai Local Government Areas have also come under widespread Jihadist attacks with forceful conversion to Islam being the order of the day.
"This is in addition to coordinated violence against Christian settlements, their farmlands, and sacred places of worship. Moderate Muslims in Niger State is also not spared and are being targeted for Jihadist attack."
2,315 abducted Christians: Kaduna State worst hit with over 600 abducted Christians
According to the rights group, "Kaduna State was investigated and found to be the worst hit with the highest number of abducted Christians with not less than 600. According to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), “over 100 Christians were abducted by terror Jihadist Fulani Bandits and Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and others in Sept 2022 alone”.
"The State also accounted for 300 abducted Christians in July-October 2022. Other affected states are Borno 200, Niger 150, Plateau 150, Abia (Umunneochi and Isuikwuato) 140, Enugu (Isi-Uzo, Uzo Uwani, Igbo Eze, etc) 100, Imo 80, Benue 60, Kebbi 50, Taraba, 50, Adamawa 40, Kogi 40, FCT 35, Anambra 20 and others 600; totaling 2,315 abducted Christians in the past ten months of 2022 or January to October."
Jihadists abducted 400 in 10 months at Umunneochi, Isi-Uzo, Okigwe, Isuikwuato, and Igbo-Eze
Intersociety further disclosed that "The five major flashpoints or dead zones for indigenous Igbo Christians especially travelers in the Southeast have been investigated and found to be Umunneochi and Isuikwuato in Abia State, Okigwe in Imo State and Isi-Uzo and Igbo-Eze/Igbo-Etiti in Enugu State.
"These five Igbo communal areas are under siege by Nigerian security forces- protected Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and their regionally assembled allies. This is to the extent that more than 400 defenseless Igbo Christians were abducted in the past ten months of 2022.
"Also no fewer than 200 lives have been lost to the Jihadists in the areas within the period under review. The Ebubeagu Government militias camouflaged as an “anti-violent Herdsmen outfit” by the Governor of Ebonyi State as ‘Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum” are nothing but “a complementing killer militia” aiding and escalating the atrocities of the Jihadists against members of the defenseless Igbo-Christian population."
Over 60 ordained Christian Ministers Of God were abducted and 15 were Killed in captivity in ten months
"No fewer than 60 abductions associated with ordained Christian Ministers of God have taken place in the past ten months of 2022. According to data compiled by the Aid to the Church in Need Int’l (ACN), released on 11th July 2022, “Eighteen Catholic Priests have been abducted in Nigeria between January and the first week of July 2022 and five of them abducted in the first week of July 2022 alone."
Image:Getty Images
"The number of abducted Catholic Priests has since risen to 26. On 15th July 2022, for instance, two more Catholic Priests (Reverend Fathers John Mark Cheitnum and Donatus Cleopas of Christ the King Catholic Church in Kafanchan, Kaduna State) were abducted, and shortly thereafter on 19th July, Father Cheitnum was killed.
"On Friday, 12th August 2022, Reverend Father Chinedu Nwadike (Cssp) and a young Seminarian, Emmanuel Nwafor (Pre Prostulant) were abducted by Jihadist Fulani terrorists at Umunneochi, along Enugu-Okigwe-Port-Harcourt Expressway. On Sunday, 21st August 2022, four Reverend Sisters (Johannes Nwodo, Christabel Echemazu, Liberata Mbamalu, and Benita Agu) were abducted by Jihadists at Okigwe.
"The four Catholic Priests so far killed this year by the Islamic Jihadists are Reverend Fathers Bako, Borogo, Odia, and Cheitnum. According to Morning Star News of 2nd August 2022, quoting officials of ECWA Church for All Nation in Nigeria, “six Pastors of the Church were killed by Islamic Jihadists between January and July 2022 alone and 27 of their members abducted”.
"Scores of other Christian Ministers of God have been killed by the Jihadists between January and Oct 2022," Intersociety noted.
Crime
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