JOS, Nigeria — Muslim extremists with the alleged help of Nigerian army personnel killed 24 Christians in August in central Nigeria’s Plateau state, area sources said.
The attacks started Aug. 11 in Ratsa Foron village, where assaults that day and Aug. 15 left six Christians dead; also on Aug. 15 in Heipang village, Muslim extremists killed nine members of one Christian family along with another Christian, the sources said.
“I can swear to God Almighty that the attack was carried out with the support of the soldiers; I saw them,” said a tearful Nnaji John, who lost her family in the attack. Attacks Aug. 21 in Kwi, Loton and Jwol villages killed six more Christians, said the sources, who added that Nigerian army soldiers participated in the assaults or at least accompanied the assailants.
In the community of Chwelnyap in Jos on Aug. 14, Muslim extremists killed two and injured one woman, the area sources said. Chollom Gyangof Chwelnyap confirmed that the Aug. 14 attack on his neighborhood was carried out with the support or tacit approval of Muslims in the army’s Special Task Force, a unit designed to stop sectarian attacks.
Plateau Gov. Jonah Jang called for immediate withdrawal of the Nigerian army because, he said, Muslims in the army have taken sides with Islamist assailants. “I am convinced that the armed forces are being polluted with the religious crisis in the country,” Jang said.
“Before now, the military personnel used to stay in the barracks, but today the armed forces have started taking sides in this religious crisis, and if they are not called to order it will be dangerous for the country.”
Share with others: