7 Dead, at Least 250 Houses Burned in Overnight Attacks in Nigeria

Amanda Casanova | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: Aug 06, 2021
7 Dead, at Least 250 Houses Burned in Overnight Attacks in Nigeria

7 Dead, at Least 250 Houses Burned in Overnight Attacks in Nigeria

Seven people are dead, and nearly 300 houses have been destroyed after a series of nighttime attacks in Nigeria.

According to The Christian Post, many say Fulani radicals are responsible for the attacks, but a Fulani advocacy group says local youths are responsible for the nighttime raids.

Last weekend, about 100 acres of farmland were destroyed, and at least 250 houses were burned. Many people were displaced from their homes.

"We are calling on government and security agencies to come to our aid, as our people have been left homeless, their farms destroyed and loved ones killed," Comrade Danjuma Dickson Auta, the IDA Secretary-General, said in an interview with The Daily Post.

He said the attacks come at the hands of "heartless people."

Sen. Hezekiah Ayuba Dimka, who represents the Plateau Central District and is the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics chairman, called the attackers "barbaric."

"Week after another, communities of Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Jos South and Jos East local government areas have come under intense attacks," he said. "The pattern has been the decimation of farmlands, killing and maiming as well as loss of lives in the most barbaric manner."

He said the attacks should not be "glossed over," and the criminals should be "brought to justice."

"Coming as they did, and disturbing as we have witnessed them, these are not isolated cases going by the pieces of information that are circulated before the attacks take place," he added. "It is expected the security should be on top of the situation."

The United Kingdom aid agency Barnabas Fund says the weekend attacks also happened in a predominantly Christian area.

The local International Christian Concern group also released a statement, asking for help and prayers.

"We call on the international community to come to our aid," a local ICC contact was quoted as saying. "The Nigerian government has betrayed us and allowed us to [fall] under the mercy of guns because of our faith.

"The military cannot help by containing the situation, but they were rather on the side of the Fulani (militants)," the contact added. "The house of the chief of Jebu Miango was burned down along with scores of other houses. It was [a burning] spree for the marauders while the security watched without saying anything.

"Please pray… as we are helpless," the contact concluded.

Photo courtesy: Ricardo Gomez Angel/Unsplash


Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.



7 Dead, at Least 250 Houses Burned in Overnight Attacks in Nigeria