International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that hundreds of protesters stormed
the Plateau State House of Assembly in the early hours of Thursday,
April 12 to stage a peaceful rally against Fulani militant attacks. The
Internally Displaced Women of Daffo District of Bokkos Local Government
Area (LGA), a Fulani militant victims group, and others gathered outside
of the Plateau State House in order to protest the killing of men,
women, and children by Fulani militants in their homeland.
The women alone, numbering over 100, were dressed in black and carrying
placards that read phrases such as, “JUSTICE4DAFFO,” “Arrest and
Prosecute Killer Herdsmen,” “Ransack Fulani Settlements,” “Where Is
State Emergency Management Agency,” and “We Have Been Made IDPs in Our
Homeland,” among many others. Many of these statements were meant as
demands presented to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
Mrs. Comfort Matawal, the leader of the group, said in a letter to the House, “It
is no longer news that Daffo District in Bokkos Local Government Area
of Plateau State was recently hit by violent attacks by persons believed
to be Fulani herdsmen that have been residents in the communities for
years. This has led to 32 deaths, 10 severely injured, 10 missing
persons, and over 7000 displaced.” However, Bokkos isn’t the only
LGA affected in Plateau State either. There have been at least 20
attacks in the state that have killed more than 100 people in 2018.
Another group that was present at the protest was the Middle-Belt Youth
Arise group. This is a group that represents the young men of Plateau
State. The spokesperson of the group, John Eche, said, “We are
saying enough is enough. All ad hoc military operations in Nigeria
henceforth should have a time limit. Our military is mighty. They have
good track records. They go on peace-keeping abroad and everything goes
fine. We call on them to be patriotic. The youth further call on [the]
federal government to immediately end the rising pogrom, and ensure
arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of the heinous crimes and bring
them to justice.”
In response to the protestors, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Peter
Azi, commended the groups for staging a peaceful rally to demonstrate
their concerns. He stated, “The government of Plateau State is
trying its best to ensure that the security issue is resolved based on
its five pillar thrusts, of which security is one.” He continued, “As a House, we will relay all your demands to the Executive Governor of Plateau State for necessary actions.”
ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Nathan Johnson, stated, “If this
violence does not cease, the devastation will only continue to grow.
The Nigerian government, as well as the international community, must
stand with the women of Daffo and the youth of Nigeria. We must demand
an end to the violence, and for the government to help rebuild these
communities that have been destroyed.”
For interviews with Nathan Johnson, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that at least two Christians were
killed and three others were wounded when gunmen opened fire on a group
of Christians gathered in the Essa Nagri area of Quetta, Pakistan.
ISIS’s local branch claimed responsibility for Sunday’s deadly attack,
marking its third attack on Christians in Quetta in recent months.
“Four men on two motorbikes opened indiscriminate fire” on a group of Christians, “killing two people while injuring three others,” local
police official Abdul Razzaq Cheema told AFP. The shooting took place
around 5:30 p.m. Victims were rushed to Bolan Medical Complex in Quetta
where two of the victims, Azhar Iqbal and Rahid Khalid, succumbed to
their wounds.
The attack took place in the Christian-majority neighborhood of Essa
Nagri in Quetta. Following the attack, hundreds of Christians gathered
to protest the killings. Protesters burned tires and blocked traffic as
they called on the government to provide their community with greater
security.
“The Christian community in Quetta has yet again become a target of rising intolerance and violence in society,” Pakistan’s National Commission for Justice and Peace said in a statement. “[We] strongly condemn these acts of terrorism and violence.”
Sunday’s shooting marks the third attack on Christians claimed by ISIS
in Quetta. In December 2017, ISIS suicide bombers attacked Bethel
Memorial Methodist Church, killing nine and injuring dozens more. Two
weeks ago, on April 2, ISIS claimed responsibility for the targeted
killing of a Christian family riding in an auto-rickshaw in Quetta.
Following the attack, ISIS said that a "covert unit" of its militants "managed to target a number of the combatant Christians."
“The Christian community is feeling insecure and threatened,” Pastor Simon of Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta told ICC. “We
are not safe at places of worship, schools, or residential apartments.
The majority of Christians are so depressed they are not sending their
children to school and even avoid going to gatherings such as social or
religious events.”
William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We here at
International Christian Concern stand in solidarity with our brothers
and sisters in Pakistan in condemning this heinous attack. No one should
fear being attacked and killed because of their religious identity.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Christians in Quetta have had
to face this extreme violence. Pakistan’s authorities must do more to
secure Christians and their places of worship. Pakistan must also make
efforts to root out the extremist elements perpetrating these attacks.
Until then, it is likely that attacks on the Christian community of
Quetta will continue.”
For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that an annual prayer gathering in
Vakel village, located in the Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, was
attacked by Hindu radicals last Thursday. The April 5 attack left many
injured, including six Christians who required hospitalization at the
district hospital in Jagdalpur.
According to Rev. Ratha Netam, one of the speakers at the prayer
gathering, the event was organized for Christians from the Vakel area as
a day of prayer at the Village Evangelical India Mission (VEIM) Church.
At 7:30 p.m., a mob of 70 people forced themselves into the church,
shouting pro-Hindu slogans and carrying wooden clubs. These radicals
then beat many of the 60 Christians in attendance and severely injured
six, including Pastor Kasinath Baghel, Shanti Baghel, Pansila Baghel,
Kanti, Pastor Bodra, and Savitri.
“When I saw the Hindu fanatics shouting at believers asking for me to kill, I [was] afraid and went into my home,” Pastor Kasinath Baghel, one of the six injured Christians, told ICC. “Three
of them entered in my home, held my hands, brought me out and beat me
mercilessly. When they were beating me I was frightened greatly and
thought that if I were killed what would [become] of my children and
wife.”
“They misbehaved with me,” 40-year-old Shanti Baghel told ICC. “They
did not even consider me as a woman. They continued to harass me and
beat me with the wooden clubs. I was helpless. I was hoping that God
will protect me from the hands of these attackers while others ran for
their lives to nearby forests.”
Pansila Baghel, a teenage girl who was abused by the attackers, said, “When
extremists pushed me, I fell to the ground. They beat me and hurled
abusive language. One of the attackers told me to give up my ration
card, even citizenship, because India is only for Hindus.”
“This attack on poor tribal Christians is unacceptable and a gross violation of [their] fundamental rights,” a local Christian leader told ICC on the condition of anonymity. “The police must act impartially and book the culprits.”
The Christian community reported the attack to local police and filed a
complaint. So far, none of the culprits have been arrested.
William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Attacks on Christians
and their places of worship in India are becoming an almost daily
occurrence. Hindu radicals across the country have been given a wide
berth by local authorities to pursue their campaigns of hate against
Christians and other minorities. This inability or unwillingness to
protect and enforce the rights of Christians must come to an end or
attacks on Christians will continue to rise in both number and
intensity.”
For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org
