https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/5-killed-in-kaduna-plateau-attacks-15-abducted/
In Kaduna and Plateau states, 15 people have been kidnapped in separate attacks that took place last weekend. In Kaduna state, four people lost their lives when the village of Iburu, in the Kajuru Local Government Area was attacked. According to Mr. Daniel Garba, a community leader in the village, the raiders entered the location at night. “They stormed the community at night and killed three people while the fourth person was killed on his way to offer assistance. So far, they kidnapped 15 of our people. We are not happy with the attacks being carried out by bandits around the area. Government and security agencies operating in the area are doing their best towards tackling insecurity in the area.” This despite the continuous instability in the state. In the attack in Plateau state, a nighttime ambush was effected at Kwi, Riyom Local Government Area. One deceased was reported. The 35 year old, Amos Pam, was reportedly on his way home from work when he was accosted. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The national president of the Berom Youth Moulder Association, Solomon Mwantiti, and its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwong, have confirmed the death. According to Tengwong, “The incident happened around 7:30pm on Friday when he was ambushed on his way home by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias who opened fire on him.”
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/five-feared-dead-others-injured-in-fresh-herders-attack-on-makurdi-community/
In Benue state, at least five people are feared dead after an attack in Makurdi, in the Anter Mbalagh community. According to village sources, the attackers stormed the village and started shooting indiscriminately, forcing people to flee, or risk being shot, injured or even murdered. Five have been confirmed dead- namely Terkimbir Orbakpa, Kpungu Orbakpa, Ave Usaar, Aondogu Aku and Temanenge Kyer, and at least another two are feared dead as they are still missing. “The attack was unprovoked, the armed herders just stormed the community late in the night at about 12:30am and started shooting. People ran for their lives. Three corpses were recovered in the morning of Tuesday and buried and two others who they must have killed in the bush have not been seen but the search for their bodies is ongoing because if they were alive they would have been seen.” However, official tallies of the death stand at only two, according to Colonel Paul Hemba, special advisor to the Governor on security.
ttps://acninternational.org/kidnapped-priests-in-nigeria/
Since the beginning of 2022, at least 18 Catholic priest have been confirmed kidnapped in Nigeria, with a whopping 5 just in the first week of July. In the face of this, the Nigerian Diocesan Catholic Priests Association (NDCPA) has issued a statement, saying, “It is really sad that in the course of their normal pastoral activities, priests have become an endangered species. Attempts have been made at various levels to cry to the government, but as already observed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, ‘it is clear to the nation that [the government] has failed in [its] primary duty of protecting the lives of the Nigerian citizens’. Our ministerial journey consists in the proclamation of the word of God, and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist as a memorial of Christ and His mission on earth. This implies that we carry along with us the Holy Books and not weapons. Christ never encouraged us to raise arms against anybody not take up any action in vengeance. We do not take arms, and we will not. Our duty is to lay before the altar of God, the gratitude, cares, worries and petitions of the faithful and ours. We are the advocates of pro-life and peace. We were called and sent to preach the good news to the poor, give liberty to captives, free the oppressed, heal the broken hearted, bind up wounds, and the likes, we have been fulfilling this call and we shall continue.”
ttps://www.persecution.org/2022/07/06/700-catholic-priests-protest-violence-nigeria/
At the funeral of Fr Vitus Borogo, whose death we reported on 30 June, after his death on 25 June, a group of over 700 of his brother priests gathered to protect violence against Christians in the country. Their call was to the national government, to decry its lack of response to the persecution faced by Nigerian Christians and its inability to protect the community from nearly constant shootings and kidnappings. The archbishop of Kaduna noted especially, how hard it has been, with the situation being the worst it has ever been. Fr Borogo is the third priest the archbishop has had to bury this year that he was responsible for.
ttps://punchng.com/terrorists-demand-n4-3bn-for-abducted-kaduna-train-hostages/
Abductors are demanding a ransom of N$100m for each of the 43 abductees of the Kaduna train kidnappings, from March this year, who are still in their custody. The demand was made to their families earlier this week. On 28 March, a train travelling on the Abuja-Kaduna line was high jacked and least 61 people kidnapped, and a minimum of 8 casualties reported at the time. Since then, the alleged masterminds of the attack were apprehended and sent to Kuje medium Security Custodial Centre, which, as reported last week, was stormed, with scores of men being freed by Ismalists. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the attacks, and the same freed Islamists from the Kuje Prison. The kidnappers have since March, released a total of 18 hostages, with the last 7 being released last week Saturday. Those who were released paid an undisclosed amount of ransom money to ISWAP, which is causing a hindrance for the release of others because “It is money that is still delaying the release of others. The terrorists are demanding ransom now. We heard the last set paid money. They have reached out to us as regards the payment of ransom. The situation now is that of you have your money, your loved ones would be freed. They have pegged the ransom at N100m. it is just unfortunate.” According to the family member of another victim, the terrorists are now no longer interested in negotiations with the government, since they have started receiving private ransom monies, and are standing firm on the fee of N100m per head. “My loved one has not been released, those that were released paid N100m. I don’t have that kind of money. The kidnappers got in touch with us. They said they are no longer negotiating with the Federal Government. Getting N100m is the dilemma many of us don’t have.”
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