Hard on the heels of the murder of 238 Christians in Plateau State the weekend before last, a church, hospital and some 17 houses were torched in a central Nigerian village during an hour-long raid.

Armed Fulani herdsmen are being held responsible for the killings.

"What is happening in Plateau State and other select states in Nigeria is pure genocide and must be stopped immediately," the Christian Association of Nigeria and church denominational heads in Plateau State said.

The Association is appealing to the Nigerian government "to stop this senseless and blood shedding in the land and avoid a state of complete anarchy where the people are forced to defend themselves."

Major Umar Adams, spokesman of the military Special Task Force, said four people had been arrested in connection with the latest attack and the force had been ordered to relocate its headquarters to the troubled area.

The Nigerian House of Representatives has now passed a number of resolutions in relation to the attacks, including one declaring the killings in Plateau State as genocide.

The House directed the federal government to immediately set up orphanages in areas affected by recent killings which have left many children orphans.

Condemning the killings and massacres in the strongest terms, the lower chamber urged government to take decisive steps to stop the killings and secure communities that had been under persistent attacks.

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode of the Angry People Democratic Party has been tweeting about his concerns for peace, while genocide and an islamisation agenda exist:

"We want peace but can there be peace without justice?

"Can there be peace when one seeks to ethnically cleanse and exterminate the other?

"Can there be peace where there is genocide and an islamisation agenda?

"Can there be peace when one race seeks to dominate and subjugate another?" he asks.

Source

• Christian Post
• The Express
• The Vanguard
• This Day
• Image: TVC News

During the attack, a priest was shot and two people "mercilessly beaten." The perpetrators also shot continuously at seminary rector's residence.

The attack was allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen on Monday.

In response, Ezeokafor is quoted to have asked Nigerian Christians to get ready for war against the killers.

He accused the Federal Government of being insensitive to the plights of Nigerian Christians.

"Some people, somewhere have declared a full-scale war against Nigerian Christians.

"We have to be vigilant. It is obvious we are no longer needed.

"It is now a full declared war. We have to safeguard our lives. We must defend ourselves.

"We will not allow these bloodsucking demons to continue to kill and maim us like chickens," Ezeokafor said.

The Fulani herdsmen are said to be unhappy with security men in the seminary for trying to prevent them from grazing their cattle on the institution's land.

In contrast to Ezeokafar's warlike response, the Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Dr Charles Hammawa, who was shot in the attack, described the attack on the seminary and the targeting of priests as regrettable.

He urged government to be more serious in handling security issues in the country.

Rev. Fr Evaristus Bassey, Director of Caritas Nigeria, pleaded for prayers in a WhatsApp message.

"Please fathers, pray for us. Our minor seminary in Jalingo has just been attacked by the Fulani, some students are injured, some cars destroyed, two priests beaten and one shot in the leg," he said.

A month ago the Fulani herdsmen attacked St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Nigeria's Benue State, killing two Catholic priests and 17 parishioners.

Churches in Nigeria staged peaceful protests in various parts of the country on 29 April, protesting killings in various parts of the country.‎

Source

• New Telegraph
• Sahara Reporters
• Punch
• Image: Bodedolu