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<\/source><\/picture>ABUJA,\u00a0Nigeria \u2014 Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists this week killed 15 Christians in Kaduna state, Nigeria, following the slaying of another one last week, sources said.<\/p>\n
The assailants on Wednesday attacked predominantly Christian Angwan Magaji village, Kauru County, killing three Christians, after attacking Kigam village on Tuesday, where three others were slain, said Abel Habila Adamu, an area community leader.<\/p>\n
The terrorists also wounded four others in the two villages, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are saddened to inform you with a heavy heart about a resurgence of attacks on Christians by the armed Fulani herdsmen and terrorists,\u201d Adamu said in a text message to Morning Star News. \u201cIndeed, our land is bleeding, and the blood of innocent Christians cries profusely for justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adamu, president of the Chawai Development Association, identified the slain in the two villages as Martina Ishaya, 55; Sunday Gizindi, 55; Danjuma Alah, 35; Joseph Baza Dauda, 23; Danladi Yakubu, 57; and Simon Chibi, 33.<\/p>\n
He identified those wounded by gunshot as Yohanna Anoh Ishaya, 27; Gado Monday Kiri, 53; Victor Timothy, 23; and John Auta.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has clearly shown that our land is indeed under siege by our enemies, terrorists and herdsmen,\u201d Adamu said.<\/p>\n
He appealed to the Nigerian government to urgently end incessant attacks on Christians in Kaduna state as well as in other parts of the country where terrorist acts have become endemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cConsidering how sacrosanct life is to any human society, we condemn these killings and hereby reiterate the fact that the attacks are quite detestable to our peaceful society and people,\u201d Adamu said. \u201cWe call on government at all levels to approach security matters with utmost sincerity and honesty as well as charge security heads to be more proactive in dealing with security matters concerning our land.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assailants on Tuesday also attacked predominantly Christian Takkanai village, Zangon Kataf County, killing six Christians and wounding four others, area residents said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe herdsmen, who were well armed with guns and other deadly weapons, attacked the village at about 7 p.m. as the villagers were getting ready to go to sleep. Among those killed are two children,\u201d Samson Markus, a community leader in Zangon Kataf, told Morning Star News in a text message.<\/p>\n
Samuel Achi, president of the Atyap Community Development Association, also identified the assailants as \u201cFulani herdsmen bandits\u201d and said they set fire to two houses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bandits operated for over an hour before leaving the community,\u201d Achi said in a text message.<\/p>\n
In Kauru County, herdsmen on Monday attacked Kigam village, killing three Christians and wounding three others, an area resident said. Robert Dodo said the attack occurred at about 9 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bandits shot at anyone they sighted as the villagers fled from their homes to escape being killed,\u201d Dodo told Morning Star News in a text message.<\/p>\n
In Chikun County, terrorists on Sept. 19 invaded predominantly Christian Mararaban Rido village, kidnapping six persons and later killing another Christian on Saturday (Sept. 23), said area resident Alheri Magaji.<\/p>\n
She said the Sept. 19 attack took place at about 1 a.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe house of a member of the Christian community of Mararaban Rido was invaded by bandits, and two members of that family were kidnapped and are being held captive,\u201d Magaji told Morning Star News in a text message.<\/p>\n
The assailants also kidnapped another woman and her three children, and last Saturday at about 8:30 p.m., returned and killed another villager, unidentified, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy heart is broken into a thousand pieces; please pray for us,\u201d Magaji said.<\/p>\n
Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors\u2019 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people.<\/p>\n
In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMilitants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery,\u201d the WWL report noted. \u201cThis year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation. \u2026 Nigeria\u2019s government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians\u2019 rights are carried out with impunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdom\u2019s All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020\u00a0report<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThey adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity,\u201d the APPG report states.<\/p>\n Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria\u2019s Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians\u2019 lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.<\/p>\n