"We've had serious problems with Christians who have been murdered, killed," President Trump stated. "We're going to work on that problem and work on that problem very, very hard." This statement and visit took place only days after 18 Christians, including two priests, were killed in Benue State, Nigeria, during a burial service. The assailants in this attack are believed to be Fulani militants. This hostile group, though only a radicalized fraction of the larger ethnic community, has conducted many attacks so far this year, especially in Benue State.
To date, the exact reasons for these attacks have been difficult to pinpoint. Unlike Boko Haram and other extremist groups, the Fulani militants do not have a defined goal or structure. They have, however, conducted more large-scale attacks and caused more devastation over the past year than any other group in Nigeria.
When asked about President Trump’s comment, Rev. John Terlumun of Benue State said, "Trumps' comments were very soothing, and have given us hope for a quick intervention in the madness of Islamic terror on our people. We are very thankful for his help."
Solomon Musa, President of the Southern Kaduna People's Union, said, "President Trump's comment to President Buhari on the killings in Nigeria is very timely. We couldn't have hoped for anything [more]. But I [would] rather also talk about what Buhari said. Buhari told President Trump that herdsmen carry sticks and not guns, but that's quite strange… It's strange what Buhari said because the other week he was saying that the people killing Nigerians were trained by Muomar Gadaffi.”
It is not only President Buhari who can’t determine the source of the conflict either. The governor of Kaduna State said that the killers are Fulani radicals from 14 African countries. The Minister of Defense, Monsur Dan Ali, said that the killings are a result of anti-open grazing laws. The Inspector-General of Police said that the killings in Benue are a communal conflict. Finally, the Director of State Security Services said that the killings are led by ISIS. It is no wonder that the government has not effectively stopped these killings since they cannot agree on why they are happening.
ICC’s Regional Manager, Nathan Johnson, stated, “It is amazing to see that this cause is finally getting some of the attention that it deserves. We are very glad to see that President Trump was willing to stand up for the many Christians who have lost their lives to this crisis in Nigeria. We hope that this interaction will lead the Nigerian government to finally respond to this devastating situation.”
For interviews with Nathan Johnson, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org
Source: International Christian Concern (ICC) - www.persecution.org.
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