The past two weeks have seen an escalation in attacks throughout Nigeria – an escalation in the number of attacks, an escalation in the brutality and brazenness of attacks, and an escalation in the number of victims. For the first time, a train has been derailed and the passengers attacked. In one single attack, 142 villagers were killed. See below our update of the latest incidents:
http://cisanewsafrica.com/nigeria-can-urges-prayers-for-peace-in-the-wake-of-deadly-train-attack/
https://punchng.com/terrorists-kill-1545-in-kaduna-zamfara-others-in-90-days/
1 April 2022 – Bandits planted explosives on the Kaduna bound train causing a deadly incident where a section of the railway blew up, once travel was obstructed, gunmen, shot at the passengers. Sadly, claiming the lives of 8 individuals with another 25 seriously wounded. Additionally, the gunmen abducted an unknown number of people as hostages, escaping into the forests. According to the “Punch” article, the National Railways Corporation found that 398 tickets were purchased, however, only 362 persons were accounted for after the attack. Rev. Fr. John Hayab, chairperson of CAN (Christians Association of Nigeria) in Kaduna State, mourns the tragic event and states that the “bandits appear to have evolved an extended network of intelligence gathering and planning to fulfil their mission”. Rev Fr. Hayab calls on the Federal Government, as some of the families of the captives have been contacted about feeding costs and ransom demands for their kin.
According to a passenger from the train, 2 explosions went off before the terrorists started shooting at the trapped passengers. There was a 30-second delay between each explosion, which went off about 25 minutes to the train destination.
Military authorities have handed over 100 pieces of “luggage, valuables and other belongings” to the Kaduna State Government for survivors to collect.
https://punchng.com/terrorists-kill-1545-in-kaduna-zamfara-others-in-90-days/
2 April 2022 – Within the first quarter of 2022, more than 1,545 civilians have been assassinated by terrorists. Correspondingly, between 1 January – and 30 March 2022, no fewer than 1,321 individuals were abducted and held for ransom demands. The intense attacks are largely directed toward Nigeria’s North-Western states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi, Katsina and the North-Central state of Niger.
Some examples of attacks include the abduction of a senior officer and the killing of two other officers at the Nigerian Defense Academy, whereby more than 200 gunmen entered (26 March 2022). As well as, the death of a member of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency who was patrolling the runway. Although Kaduna is home to a majority of the military bases/ formations, within 3 months more than 100 deaths from several attacks were recorded. Additionally, on 31 March 2022, Senator Shehu Sani, tweeted on his official Twitter handle that gunmen had blocked the Abuja-Kaduna highway, and motorists are rapidly diverting off the route to avoid any attacks. Hostages were taken and families were receiving phone calls that evening for ransom money; Senator Sani questions how the bandits got their SIM card registrations and their National Identification Number (NIN).
A petition was released on “change.org”, with a current standing of more than 30,000 signatures (12 April 2022). The petition stood for the continuous terrorist attacks affecting Nigeria’s individual and collective insecurity and the government’s insouciance, as seen through the government’s actions and inactions. The government are failing their primary obligations, as the value of human life in Nigeria is at the lowest level of consideration. As seen, in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack (1 April 2022), the number of deaths, missing persons, and persons rescued were not accounted for. This violates the Nigerian Constitution in Section 14(2)(b): ‘security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government’ and Section 17(2)(c): ‘governmental actions shall be humane.
The states with the highest number of deaths resulting from the armed Fulani militia attacks include Zamfara (307 deaths), Kaduna (223 deaths) and Niger (397 deaths), with a combined abduction of at least 904 civilians. Around 927 civilians were killed in the first quarter of 2022, this figure could be higher as this number was compiled from various media reports, an initiative from the Council of Foreign Relations, the National Security Tracker, and the USA think tank. Security experts have advised the North-West against declaring a state of emergency, despite the escalating insecurity, as it never achieved the desired result during President Obasanjo’s administration on Plateau State.
The Kaduna State Police Command were called to diffuse the second bomb found in a mere 24-hours at the Rigasa Community in Igabi LGA of Kaduna state. Children playing came across a “Jerry Can” with an object covered in black nylon, which was kept in the same location as the previous IED. An anti-bomb squad was sent to the area and successfully defused the IED.
Another incident (17 March 2022) involved the death of 3 residents, 6 injured and 10 abducted in Angwan Bulus in Chikun LGA of Kaduna state. This is the fourth incident in a series of attacks where large numbers of terrorists have entered the area while shooting sporadically at anything in sight. Relatedly, in the Todu community in Igabi LGA, the attackers were wearing military uniforms and abducted more than 100 residents.
https://www.obongexpress.com/2022/04/breaking-unknown-gunmen-attack-soldiers.html?m=1
8 April 2022 – Armed Fulani militia ambushed soldiers patrolling the Tonimass Junction, Osisioma Axis, located on the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway in Aba. The attackers set a military tank on fire, following a raid conducted earlier that morning.
No Link: Intersociety “Nigeria is the Most Christian Lives’ Hackers in the World in 2021: 5, 191 Hacked To Death
In 2021, no fewer than 5,191 Christians were hacked to death by Nigerian Islamic radicals and the radicalized members of the security forces, allowing Nigeria to become “a Country with the World’s Largest Christian Deaths for the Year 2021” and “the Greatest Enemy of the Christian Faith and its Faithful or Members in the World”. Within the 5,191 Christian deaths, at least 3800 Christians and 25 Christian clerics were abducted and around 400-420 of their churches were struck or destroyed. As noted, between January 2021 – and March 2022, approximately the death toll of Nigerian Christians killed is recorded as 6006. In the first 3 months of 2022, the worst hit is recorded in the Niger state Christian areas including Munya, Rafi and Shiroro LGA’s with 213 verified deaths. Followed by, Southern Kaduna (143 deaths), Taraba (130 deaths), Benue (72 deaths), Plateau (62 deaths), Ondo/ Ogun (40 deaths), Kebbi (20 deaths), Enugu (20 deaths), Edo/ Delta (15 deaths), and Nasarawa, Kogi, Abia, Imo (10 deaths each). Around 915 deaths occurred during this period, with ISWAP and Boko Haram accounting for 60 Christian lives and the Nigerian security forces claiming at least 70 Igbo citizens.
In 2021, abduction rates skyrocketed, as around 3,800 Nigerian Christians were abducted, out of the estimated “6,000” overall tribal and religious and ransom related abductions. Similarly, 700 abductions occurred between January – March 2022, with 400 of those taking place in Niger State Christian areas. As well as, 30 defenseless Christian Igbo in Abia, Imo and Enugu States.
Over the past 13 years, (2009-2022) around “75,644 Nigerians have been killed”, the death toll of Christians is documented as 45,644 and an additional 30,000 deaths are accounted for moderate and defenseless Muslims. The Muslim killings are a result of Nigeria’s Jihadists dominated by alien and indigenous Fulani herdsmen and Fulani bandits (previously Zamfara Bandits) and other jihadist mercenaries and pastoralists. This is recently centered on “Muslim Fulani-Muslim Hausa rivalries” occurring in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Birnin-Gwari and Katsina and Igabi areas of Kaduna State. The Vigilante Group is known as “Yankasai”, and the slaughters are a result of political, economic and radical religious reasons. The Fulani bandits and Jihadist Fulani herdsmen have allied in terrorizing and occupying farmlands, bushes, forests and their owners in the Southern areas of Delta, Ondo, Edo, Ogun, and the North Central State of Benue.
10 April 2022 – Reverend Leo Raphael Ozigi, a Catholic priest was kidnapped and held for 3 weeks after eventually being released for N10 million. The money was raised by donations from his church in Minna, his family and close acquaintances. After prolonged negotiations, a representative of the church was led by a group of bandits into Birnin Gwari forest and delivered the ransom to the ‘Commander’. Once the money was received, a signal was sent to release the priest from where he was held. The church delegation found him on foot (after walking several kilometres) on the Kaduna-Zaria Road where they were directed by the bandits to pick him up.
On The Ground Reports
10 April 2022 – People were killed in terrible circumstances by gunmen between 2:30 pm- 3 pm along Ezinifite and Uga Axis. This occurred right before Sister Nkiru delivered the food parcels. See photos below:
11 April 2022 – This attack occurred around 11pm, with over 14 civilians being killed in the village Tyotyu, about 30km out of Makurdi. See photos below:
11 April 2022 – Another armed Fulani militia attack occurred in Sumaka community of Mbadwem ward, Guma LGA. Resulting in the death of 6 civilians and 3 seriously injured. See photos below:
https://gazettengr.com/just-in-killer-herdsmen-murder-142-villagers-in-plateau/
11 April 2022 – Armed Fulani militia attacked Kanam LGA of Plateau state, killing 142 residents and burning down their houses and belongings. The attack affected various communities, including Gyambawu, Kukawa, Kyaram, Dadda, Dungur, Wanka, Yelwa, Gwammadaji, Dadin Kowe, and Shuwaka. The attacks went on for more than 24hours with no police intervention.
No Link: Video from Nigeria
Bandits attacked a village called Kakura along the Kaduna Abuja road and were met by the military. The video shows military officers arresting and pilling the bandits one-by-one onto the back vehicle.
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