Dozens Killed In Nigeria As Violence Mars Easter Celebrations
At least 54 Christians were killed early Easter in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, many during worship, with dozens more abducted from Evangelical Church Winning All Souls and other sites, International Christian Concern reported.
Murders and abductions in several communities in Benue, Kaduna and Nasarawa states were reported, but authorities had not released the total casualty count, ICC said on Monday.
Violence against Christians in Nigeria was the most severe as security threats and wartime forced Christians in Syria and Israel to limit or abandon plans for public gatherings, according to several news reports.
READ: 53 Killed In Palm Sunday Attacks In Nigeria’s Christian Areas
ICC President Shawn Wright called “horrific” the Nigerian Easter violence that followed deadly attacks a week earlier on Palm Sunday.
“Dozens of our brothers and sisters were killed as they remembered Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and celebrated the hope that comes from His miraculous resurrection” Wright said in a press release. “As one Body of Christ, we pray for the survivors and families who are walking through unimaginable grief.”
Unidentified gunmen are blamed for killing at least 17 early Easter morning in Benue; at least 12 during Easter services in Ariko and 15 others in villages in Kajuru, both in Kaduna; and 10 in Nasarawa State, persecution watchdog groups reported.
Attackers kidnapped dozens of others, and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and community survivors questioned claims by the Nigerian military that the military freed 31 of those taken captive.
“Nobody has been rescued,” CAN leader John Hayab said April 6 after speaking with community members, BBC reported. “If they are rescued, where did they take them to?”
Attacks on Christians in Nigeria, usually orchestrated by jihadists, militant Fulani or bandits, frequently occur in areas with limited security infrastructure, ICC reported. Attacks at Easter and other Christian holidays have been consistent in recent years.
This article has been republished with permission from Baptist Press.
Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer.