JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Two Christians were killed in an attack on a church service in southern Kaduna state on Sunday (Oct. 31), with eight others slain in earlier assaults on predominantly Christian villages, sources said.
The lethal attack on Baptist worshippers in Kakau Daji village, Chikun County, also resulted in the kidnapping of dozens of Christians from the Sunday service, church leaders said.
“Two Christians were killed in the church during the morning worship service, and many others were taken away at gunpoint by the armed Fulani herdsmen,” Ishaya Jangado, president of the Kaduna Baptist Convention, said in a text message to Morning Star News.
Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), lamented that the Nigerian government has been incapable of stopping such atrocities after years of attacks.
“Christians are being killed without respite, and the government exhibits carelessness in tackling these monsters,” Hayab said. “These evil people have troubled us for too long.”
In Jankasa village, Zangon Kataf County, Fulani herdsmen on Oct. 25 killed four Christians and wounded three others, residents said. Samuel Aruwan, commissioner of Internal and Home Affairs for Kaduna state, identified those killed as Luka Nelson, Timothy Koni, Pasi Peter and George Francis. Wounded by gunshot were Daniel Dauda, Extra James and Henry Frances, he said.
“The injured persons are now receiving treatment in hospital,” Aruwan said.
On Oct. 24 in Ungwan Taila village, Zangon Kataf County, herdsmen killed two Christians, residents said.
“The herdsmen attacked our village at about 4:30 p.m.; they were large in numbers, and they were shooting randomly as they invaded our community,” village resident Ayuba Musa said in a text message to Morning Star News. “Two of our Christian villagers were killed many others had gunshot wounds.”
The injured were receiving hospital treatment, he said. Aruwan confirmed the killings and said troops would continue search-and-rescue operations in the area.
In Lisuru Gida village, also in Zangon Kataf County, armed herdsmen on Oct. 11 killed a Baptist pastor and another Christian in an ambush, said area resident Yakubu Luka said in a text message.
“The pastor stood his ground by refusing to renounce his Christian faith, even when he knew it would cost him his life,” Luka said. “He was killed alongside a member of his church. There’s no doubt that it is worth dying for Jesus Christ.”
Hayab of the Kaduna state CAN confirmed the killings, saying he was unable to obtain the name of the pastor and the other Christian slain due to the state government cutting off telecommunication services in the area to help the military combat such crimes.
