02/13/2021 Nigeria(International Christian Concern) – Fulani militants attacked villagers in Owode Ketu community in Ogun State, Nigeria, around 5am on Thursday, leaving six dead and many seriously injured. Two of the victims, who were identified as farmers, were reported to have been macheted and then thrown into the Yewa River.
Eyewitnesses informed reporters that perpetrators entered the community by the hundreds, shooting indiscriminately at villagers as they tried to run to safety. The incident caused closers to schools, hospitals, and many businesses.
House of Assembly member representing Ketu Constituency, Wahab Haruna Abiodun, said that the attack was in retaliation of a visit from Sunday Igboho, an activist working to rid the community of killer herdsmen: “This was a reprisal attack by herdsmen as they came in hundreds following the visitation of Sunday Igboho to the area,” he said, “It is so sad that Ketu Constituency is bathing in the blood of constituents.
Governor Dapo Abiod condemned the violence, stating: “We shall spare no action, including ruthless ones, to bring peace, public order into every hamlet, town and city in the Gateway Stat”.
The Fulani Militia is the fourth deadliest terror group in the world and has surpassed Boko Haram as the greatest threat to Nigerian Christians. “They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity,” states the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group. Christian leaders in Nigeria believe that attacks are motivated by Jihadist Fulani’s desire to take over farmland and impose Islam on the population. Many citizens and political leaders are frustrated with the Muslim-dominated government that is believed to be enabling Fulani atrocities. On December 7th, The U.S. State Department added Nigeria to their list of Countries of Particular Concern for tolerating “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.” Please pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian government, that God will give them the wisdom and strength to eradicate corruption in their political systems.
