Nigeria: Gunmen kill 3, kidnap 11, including Catholic priest
Gunmen have killed three people and kidnapped 11 others, including a Catholic priest, in north-western Nigeria, as reported by AP on February 7th.
Officials from the Kaduna Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan said that gunmen attacked the priest’s residence, which is located in the Kauru local government, at around 3 am on February 7th; they described the assault as “an act of invasion by a group of terrorists.”
The Kaduna Catholic Church has called for prayers for the victims and for the release of those taken hostage. It is currently unclear if jihadist groups were responsible for the attack; however, Nigerian Christians have previously been kidnapped by Islamist militants.
Amid the ongoing threat posed by jihadist groups, such as Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State in Western Province (ISWAP), Nigeria has increasingly sought support from the US to counter the violence.
The Nigerian government has blamed jihadists for kidnappings, but some analysts have disputed these claims and accused criminal gangs of being responsible for attacks in north-west and central Nigeria, due to Boko Haram and ISWAP primarily operating in the north-east.
It was reported on February 3rd that a small US military team had been deployed in northern Nigeria to strengthen efforts in countering terrorism, where terrorist groups are particularly active.
US President Donald Trump has previously accused jihadists of perpetrating a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, despite independent analysts and human rights groups finding no evidence of widespread Christian persecution.
In January, at a Joint Working Group in Abuja, US diplomat Allison Hooker urged the Nigerian government to “protect Christians”, but seemingly omitted any reference to Muslim victims of violence in Nigeria.
Since its founding in 2009, Boko Haram has killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions more. The group’s name roughly translates to “Western education is a sin.”
Its primary objective, which it shares with ISWAP, is to establish an Islamic Caliphate in Nigeria, which would be governed by Sharia Law. Both groups are affiliated with the Islamic State and have been accused of carrying out mass killings and kidnappings.
Boko Haram’s presence has effectively turned towns and villages into militarised zones, forcing thousands to flee from the northern Borno State, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring Cameroon.
AP, Maghrebi.org
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