Source: www.persecution.org
Date: October 6, 2023
Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – Hours after celebrating Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary at a local church in Kwall district of Bassa county, northcentral Nigeria, Christians from Du Village gathered to mourn the loss of eight of its members who died in a recent radical Fulani militant attack.
One villager who witnessed the attack told International Christian Concern (ICC), “Eight people were killed during a night attack by Fulani extremists, who normally graze their cattle at night.” He said the attackers came when it was raining, and the attack lasted for about an hour. Five villagers were wounded but survived.
“The Fulani militias stormed the community at about 8:00 p.m., positioned and sprayed bullets on the bodies of innocent people while sleeping,” the witness said. “The Rigwe Nation is not only saddened by this unfortunate development and occurrence but completely depressed and brokenhearted knowing fully how peaceful and hospitable the Rigwe people had lived and still living.”
An ICC staffer was at Du village on Oct. 2 and attended the burial ceremony of the eight victims. A Christian clergyman said the attack was not just against the community but against the Church of God in Nigeria. He said Christians are killed for the sake of Christ, not because of the land. He condemned the attack and called on Christians to continue praying for divine protection.
The leaderships of Rigwe Traditional Council, Irigwe Development Association (IDA), and Irigwe Youth Movement (IYM) expressed sadness over the attack and condemned it in the strongest terms, assuring the people that they were working to end the violence.
“This thing must stop, and it is enough. We can’t continue allowing these marauders to continue unleashing mayhem in the land. Our ancestral land is God-given, and her people cannot be evicted and ejected. We will do everything possible to guard, secure, and safeguard it and ensure it is passed to generations to come,” the leadership affirmed.
The leadership called on the security personnel to immediately arrest those who carried out the attack.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for comfort for the families that lost loved ones. Pray for greater protection for this community. Pray for an end to Fulani-led violence.