Nigerian ‘bandits’ attack churches, 3 dead; dozens kidnapped

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

ABUJA (Worthy News) – Dozens of Christians are still missing on Tuesday after gunmen attacked churches in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Kaduna, killing at least three people and abducting a pastor and about 30 worshippers, Christians said.

Sunday’s attacks in Bakinpah-Maro community in Kajuru area of ​​Kaduna Local Government were carried out by so-called ‘bandits’ who experts say are often linked to extremist Muslim groups.

Officials said a large group of gun-toting criminals arrived around 10 a.m. local time. Several were seen firing shots or otherwise attacking a church of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) denomination and a nearby Catholic church.

According to Worthy News, one of the abductees was also a pastor of one of the churches, Bernard Gajera.

The violence broke out two days after the Nigerian military freed 13 hostages kidnapped in Kaduna state following a military operation triggered by a tip-off, a government official said.

After receiving information that the kidnappers wanted to relocate the six men and seven women, the military launched an operation at a camp near Chigulu village in Kachia Local Government Area of ​​Kaduna State.

After a gunfight, the “bandits” fled to the nearby forest, leaving behind their captives, Kaduna State Security Commissioner Samuel Aruwan added in a statement.

MORE KIDNAPPINGS

Officials said weapons, ammunition, solar panels and money were also found during the operation at the camp.

Kidnappings are on the rise in northern Nigeria, especially from schools and along highways, as criminal gangs demand ransoms.

Kidnappings often force families to sell land, livestock and grain to secure the release of their loved ones.

Experts say Christians are also among the groups being targeted, as bandits increasingly collaborate with Islamist groups seeking to impose Sharia (Islamic law) and with other Muslim fighters.

“A synergy between armed bandits and jihadists would lead to more civilian deaths, displacement and destruction of property,” warned Folahanmi Aina, an expert on international security and development policy.

“It could also attract more foreign terrorist fighters, given Nigeria’s porous borders, who would be eager to recruit combative terrorists for armed conflict in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel regions,” he wrote in an assessment for King’s College London obtained by Worthy News.

“This also has serious long-term implications for external state actors such as the United States, France and the European Union, as terrorist activities in the region could jeopardize their economic interests.”

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

To prevent this, “the Federal Government of Nigeria must act swiftly. It must intensify covert operations to disrupt the potential consolidation of partnerships between armed bandits and jihadist groups,” he added.

According to researchers, this advice is given because more believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria every year than anywhere else in the world.

More than 8,000 Christians were killed last year alone, according to the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety).

“Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Muslim-majority north, continue to live under immense pressure and are terrorised with devastating impunity by Islamic militants and armed ‘bandits’,” the activist group Open Doors confirmed.
Nigeria ranks 6th on Open Doors’ annual World Watch List, a list of 50 countries where they say Christians suffer the most for their faith in Christ.

“The attacks are often brutal in nature and can include destruction of property, kidnapping for ransom, sexual violence and death. Worshippers are robbed of their livelihoods and forced from their homes, leaving a trail of grief and trauma,” Open Doors added.

According to Christians, violence by extremist Islamic groups such as Fulani militants, Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State in West Africa Province) increased during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari.

That has “placed Nigeria at the epicentre of targeted violence against the church. The government’s failure to protect Christians and punish perpetrators has only strengthened the militants’ influence,” Open Doors warned.

Sunday’s attacks on churches underscored the trend in Africa’s most populous country, home to some 230 million people.