By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
ABUJA (Worthy News) – Residents in Nigeria’s Plateau State are reeling from attacks by Islamist hardliners that killed dozens of civilians, most of them predominantly Christian farmers, several sources said.
In the latest known deadly violence, at least 14 villagers and a police officer were reportedly killed on Thursday in two separate attacks carried out by gunmen in Plateau’s Bokkos Local Government Area.
Nigerian media said many victims, mainly from the Chirang community, were attacked while returning home from the region’s Bokkos market to Mangor village.
The chairman of the violence-watching Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the killings, saying, “Fourteen natives were ambushed and killed by suspected terrorists while three others were injured on their way from Bokkos Market to Mangor Village of Bokkos [Local Government Area] LG.”
The police officer was at a checkpoint along Richa Road in the same Bokkos LG before he was killed, officials said.
Earlier, at least 27 mainly Christian farmers, including men and women, were reportedly killed in a fresh attack by gunmen in Bindi-Jebbu of the Tahoss community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Villagers said the July 14 attack left “many people” injured, with several being “rushed to hospitals, including the Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Hospital.”
Nigeria has seen numerous attacks by Islamic fighters often linked to groups that want to establish Sharia (Islamic law) ruling the nation.
Thousands of Christians are among those killed, according to Christian advocacy groups. Nigeria ranks 7th on the annual World Watch List of 50 nations where advocacy group Open Doors says Christians face the most persecution for their faith.
“Jihadist violence continues to escalate in Nigeria, and Christians are particularly at risk from targeted attacks by Islamist militants, including Fulani fighters, Boko Haram, and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province),” Open Doors explained.
“These [attacks] increased under the rule of former president Muhammadu Buhari, putting Nigeria at the epicentre of targeted violence against the church. The government’s failure to protect Christians and punish perpetrators has only strengthened the militants’ influence,” the group added in a recent assessment.
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Residents in Nigeria’s Plateau State are reeling from attacks by Islamist hardliners that killed dozens of civilians, most of them predominantly Christian farmers, several sources said.