AFRICA/NIGERIA - Despite the curfew: the chain of violence continues

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Attacks on communities in Plateau state, in northern Nigeria, continue. Between December 23 and 26, more than 200 people died in a series of attacks by armed gangs of Fulani herdsmen (see Fides, 2/1/2024). Violence continues despite the proclamation of the curfew decreed on January 23 by the governor of the State. There is no official data on the number of victims of the armed attacks that razed churches and mosques in the suburbs of Anguwan Dawo, Old Market and Bayan Kasuwa on January 24. The violence also spread to other areas, where places of worship and shops were set on fire. The underlying causes of these new attacks are uncertain; there is talk of a dispute between a local resident and the shepherds; others reported attempted cattle thefts from the settlements of some nomadic herders who had settled in the Gangara Kwata area. The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Mangu Local Government Area, Reverend Timothy Daluk, accused the Nigerian Army of killing three Christians and selectively applying the curfew, which amounted to discrimination against Christians. "The curfew only applies to people in Mangu - the area inhabited by Christians. Within their area, Muslims can move freely and do whatever they want," complains Daluk, according to whom "the military killed three of our young men from my circle of acquaintances "One of them in front of my church. The military command told me that the perpetrators were supposedly not real soldiers." However, the president of the local CAN doesn't believe that. On the other hand, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) complains that the crisis in Plateau State is having serious economic consequences for residents, driving away potential investors, tourists and visitors frightened by increasing insecurity. MURIC therefore called for calm. "The death toll in the raging crisis in Mangu, Plateau State, has reached eight. Six mosques and two churches have been burnt. The burnt mosques include a central mosque, the Anguwan Dawo Jumat Mosque", MURIC said in a statement. "An Islamic school, Audi Islamiyyah, was also burnt. The two burnt churches, Deden and Assemblies of God's Church are located in Sabon-Kasuwa in Dercom and Alogom areas of Mangu". MURIC denounces "this wanton destruction of lives and properties, particularly houses of worship which should be respected. It is barbaric and satanic. We must learn to coexist peacefully". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 25/1/2024)

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