VWANG KOGOT, Nigeria — A rash of attacks by armed Muslim extremists on villages in Nigeria’s Plateau state have left more than 100 Christians dead, including the elimination of entire families, sources said. In a guerilla-type “hit and run” attack on the Christian community of Vwang Kogot, Muslim attackers killed 14 Christians, including a pregnant woman, at about 8 p.m. Sept. 9.
Survivors of the attack said the assailants raided the village with the aid of men in military uniforms of the Nigerian Army. Gyang Badung survived the attack, but his wife, four children, mother, grandmother and a nephew did not, he said. Vou Mallam, another survivor of the attack, was with her husband and children when the raiders broke into their house. She escaped death when she found a hiding place in one of the rooms. Her husband, only son and grandchildren were killed. She said she heard the assailants speaking the Fulani language.
Ethnic Fulani are primarily Muslim nomads in Nigeria whom militant Muslims appear to be enlisting to attack Christian communities due to the Fulanis’ expert understanding of the terrain of rural communities, area Christians said.
On Sept. 10, Muslim extremists stormed Vwang Fwil village at about 3 a.m. and killed 13 Christians.
On Sept. 8, Muslim extremists attacked Tsohon Foron village, killing 10 Christians, all members of the family of Danjuma Gyang Tsok. Emmanuel Dachollom Loman, chairman of the Barkin Ladi Local Government Council, said he has repeatedly reported attacks to security agencies and the Nigerian government, but nothing has been done to protect his people.
“This is becoming too much to bear,” he said. “The government should help us before Muslims come and wipe all of us out one day.”
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