Since the turn of the year, and for the first six months of 2020, Over 1202 Christians have been killed by Jihadists in Nigeria, an Intersociety report says.
Just as about 22 Christians were killed in Kaduna State just less than two weeks ago, Anambra-based International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has released a new report stating that no fewer than 1,202 Christians were killed between January and June 2020.
Increased killings of Christians by Jihadist Herdsmen, and Boko Haram/ISWAP have rapidly increased since the turn of the year, placing Nigeria in the 12th position in Open Doors USA list of countries with the highest Christian persecution.
The report according to the Intersociety, an organization headed by Christian criminologist, Emeka Umeagbalasi, estimates that 812 deaths came through the Muslim Fulani herding communnity.
The Fulani herdsmen carried out attacks against predominantly Christian farming communities in the country, especially the Middle Belt region.
Another 390 deaths were said to be caused by the radical Islamic groups like Boko Haram/ISWAP, as well as attacks by armed bandits in the northern region.
“Thousand of defenseless Christians who survived being hacked to death have also been injured and left in mutilated conditions with several of them crippled for life,” the report states.
According to the report hundreds of Christian worship and learning centers were also destroyed as well as thousand of houses and farmlands belonging to Christians.
Earlier on, a group of UK Lawmakers had called for investigation into reports of ‘genocide’ in the country.
This came after International right advocates reported that the standard for genocide has been reached in Nigeria, while considering the thousands of Christians killed, especially in the middle belt region.
The Nigerian Government however refuted the claim, labeling it a part of the “decades-long conflicts” between herders and farmers in Africa.
Intersociety however contend that the “herder-farmer conflict” label is misleading as it doesn’t take into account the religious elements at play.
“All the areas under Jihadist Herdsmen attacks are Christian communities, as to date,” the report reads.
“There are no pieces of evidence anywhere showing killing of Muslims and taking over of their lands, farmlands and houses or destruction or burning of Mosques by the Jihadist Herdsmen.”
In a related news, suspected Boko Haram Terrorists attacked chibok town in Borno State on Saturday killing three farmers.
Sources revealed that the terrorists who were armed with assault rifles, came on motorbikes at about 3pm and shot sporadically towards the villagers who were farming.
According to the report, 10 other farmers were also injured in the incidence, and majority of the villagers are now scared of going to the farm.
