Christian groups in Nigeria have responded to reports that suspected Fulani fighters attacked predominantly Christian villages in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Reports say that suspected Hausa-Fulani fighters attacked Dogo-Na-Hawa, Ratsat and Jeji villages in Foron district, Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, in the early hours of Sunday.
The Christian Elders Consultative Forum released a statement which said, “The attack, yet another jihad and provocation of the Christians, started at about 1.30 a.m last night. We are in touch with the survivors though many of them are still in trauma.
“Dogo Nahawa is a Christian community. Eye-witnesses say the Hausa-Fulani Muslim militants came chanting ‘allahu akbar’ and broke into homes, cutting human beings including children and women with their knives and cutlasses.
“These militants, we understand, came into Plateau State from neighbouring Bauchi State. We are indeed worried as we have severally made it clear about the role of the Nigerian Army.
“Since the last religious crisis when the Federal Government mandated the Nigerian Army to take over the security of the state, we have never failed to show our fears and worries because of the role the military has played in previous crisis.
“Shortly after the militants besieged Dogo Nahawa this morning, we contacted the soldiers at exactly1.30am since they are in charge of security of the state. But we were shocked to find out that the soldiers did not react until about 3.30am after the Muslim attackers had finished their job and left.
“We want the soldiers to again explain reason for this deliberate delay which we consider part of the ploy. We want to state here that we no longer have any confidence in the Nigerian Army in the security of Plateau State because of their bias against Christians.”
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) also reacted and called the killing of innocent Christians cowardly and described the reckless destruction of property and lives as further evidence that terrorist attacks similar to the September 11, 2001 attacks and the failed Christmas Day bombing in the USA now exist in Nigeria.
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galku nyala, sudan March 09, 2010
...are these Muslim in Nigeria? these Fulani herdsmen are not after any religion but their cows...be you Muslim or xtain if you attack their cow they will surely revenge...
Am surprise this type of report is coming out from a respected media like this....these people refused to tolerate each other not because of religion...check bbc news for the real story.
OMOTAYO, J. A. Lagos, NIGERIA March 09, 2010
My condolences to all the families of the bereaved. May the souls of the departed rest in peace. May God Almighty grant the other victims who suffer various unquantifiable losses the right mind to overcome the present pains, amen.
I cannot think that Jos which used to be my second home could suddenly become a theatre of war, maiming and killing. I had grown such love with Jos that I could leave Akure or Lagos anytime for Jos. But that was in the past, in the 1990s. Today I am afraid I may have to change my route is I have to merely pass through Jos.
I do not know the intricacies of what led to this killing upon killing without any end in sight. But I do belief that the autorities (local, state,and federal) may not be doing enough. I can only urge them to have a rethink. If this crisis does not close to claiming the life of a relation today, it can in future if not checkmated. No one should consider himself (not gender sensitive) immune in this situation.
