Showing posts with label Violence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Violence. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Five sentenced to death in Nigeria over 'witchcraft' murder

Five men have been sentenced to death by hanging in Nigeria's Kano state for the 2023 murder of a woman they accused of witchcraft.

The convicted men attacked Dahare Abubakar, 67, as she was working on her farm, beating and stabbing her to death.

Ms Abubakar's family went to the authorities and the suspects were swiftly arrested in a village 45km (28 miles) from Kano - the largest city in northern Nigeria.

The case gained attention across the country and raised discussions over how people in rural areas continue to be murdered following witchcraft accusations.

The ones who make the claims without any proof believe that those they accuse are responsible for either a death of a family member, sickness or misfortune.

Giving his ruling, Judge Usman Na'abba said the the prosecution had proven its case against the five men beyond reasonable doubt.

The prosecutor, Abba Sorondiki, said he hoped the judgement would deter others from making wrongful accusations and then taking matters into their own hands.

The court heard that the victim was murdered after the sick wife of one of the accused, Abdulaziz Yahaya, had a dream that she was being pursued by Ms Abubakar, who was holding a knife.

Yahaya then organised a group to confront Ms Abubakar, which resulted in her murder.

"There have been similar cases like this but this is the first time we are seeing up to five people sentenced to death for murder over wrongful witchcraft accusation," Mr Sorondiki told the BBC.

The victim's son, Musa Yahaya, said that the day his mother was killed was the worst day of his life and that he was pleased to see justice being served.

"I am happy because they would get the same treatment they meted out to my mother," he said.

Defence lawyer Ma'aruf Yakasai said his clients plan to appeal against the verdict.

The death penalty is rarely carried out in Nigeria and those convicted often spend the rest of their lives in prison on death row.

By Mansur Abubakar, BBC

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Nigerians mourn woman allegedly beheaded by gospel singer


 







Nigerians on social media are mourning the death of a woman who was allegedly beheaded by a man reported to be her boyfriend in Nasarawa state.


Police arrested Timileyin Ajayi, a gospel singer, on Sunday with the severed head of his victim, 24-year-old Salome Adaidu, near a church.

He is alleged to have been carrying the head in a bag which drew attention from other people who accosted him before police took over and arrested him.

Other dismembered parts of the deceased's body were alleged to be have been recovered later in his home.

Mr Ajayi has not commented on the allegations.

"The suspect was found with a fresh human head, and when we got to the scene, we rescued him from being mobbed," Nasarawa police spokesman Ramhan Nansel was quoted by the Punch news website as saying.

The deceased was identified as a member of the National Youth Service Corps who was serving in the federal capital, Abuja.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, the police said.

Ms Adaidu's family has urged the Nigerian government to thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for her death.

A friend of the deceased, Abby Simon, told BBC Pidgin that it was a sad experience for Ms Adaidu's mum who lost her husband only seven months ago. She said the mother had fainted from the shock of losing her daughter.

She also said the deceased was not in a relationship with the suspect.

"Nobody deserves to die this way. Even if she was his girlfriend, she didn't deserve to die this way," she said.

The deceased's sister, Patience Adaidu, told local TV outlet News Central that she was disappointed at the way the police were handling the case and called for help from Nigerians.

"Police have not given us any information about my sister... They have not answered our questions... We demand justice, we need help from Nigerians."

Nigerians on social media have been sending messages of support following the incident.

"RIP Salome Adaidu. Your killer will never have rest even after death," Avni James said.

Amara Josephine said on X: "That gruesome image of that young lady saddens my heart. I pray for her family."

Thursday, December 19, 2024

More than 2 million kidnapped in Nigeria in one year

Security officials in Nigeria are raising concerns after a National Bureau of Statistics survey revealed that more than 2 million people were kidnapped in the West African nation between May 2023 and April 2024, and that Nigerians paid a cumulative $1.42 billion to kidnappers within the same period.

The NBS released its Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024 on Tuesday. The report said some 600,000 Nigerians were killed and 2.2 million others abducted across the country between May 2023 and April 2024.

Armed gangs, known locally as bandits, were mostly responsible for the escalation of violence in northwest and north central Nigeria, while terror-related violence was reported in the northeast region of Nigeria.

The report said 91% of the kidnappings were attributed to ransom demands, while other cases were due to political, criminal or terrorist motives. It also said Nigerians spent $1.4 billion cumulatively to free their loved ones from kidnappers at an average of $1,700 per incident.

Security analyst Senator Iroegbu said the report is no surprise.

"The figure is not surprising. The only difference is that the media focus has shifted, and that's what makes it look as if it [insecurity] has reduced,” Iroegbu said. “So, this report has brought back to light what is going on."

According to the NBS report, 82.1% of the kidnapped victims were released, 12.8% were killed, 3.3% remained in captivity and the outcome of about 1.3% of victims was unknown.

The report comes amid growing security concerns in Africa's most populous nation already struggling to curb a range of insecurities that have stretched the security forces thin.

It also revealed that nearly seven out of 10 households in Nigeria reported murder cases to the police within the same period.

Security analyst Saheed Shehu said the trend is worrying.

"These figures should serve as a yardstick as a baseline for the president and commander-in-chief to hold his military, police, accountable,” Shehu said. “The figures should serve as a tool to hold the leaders of the security agencies accountable. We should not just be reading figures and then wait for the end of 2025 to release another figure."

In November, Nigeria announced the discovery of a new terror group known as Lakurawa but said security forces were already on their trail.

Two weeks ago, Nigerian defense authorities said the military killed a total of 8,000 terrorists and apprehended over 11,000 suspects and rescued over 6,000 victims between January and December.

But Shehu is skeptical.

"This report coming from the National Bureau of Statistics — to be honest, it makes me to be at a quandary whether the reports we're getting from security agencies of successes ... it does not balance with this report,” Shehu said. “So, something must be wrong somewhere."

Improving security is a major challenge for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's government as it desperately seeks to attract foreign investments to grow the country's struggling economy.

Nigeria allocated about $4 billion, or 12% of this year's budget, to defense and security — the largest single allocation to any sector.

By Timothy Obiezu, VOA

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Deadly violence in Nigeria tied to United Methodist Church schism over LGBTQ policies

A religious schism has turned deadly in Nigeria, with a church member fatally shot and two young children killed as homes were set ablaze, according to United Methodist News Service.

The news service said the reported violence on Sunday stemmed from a schism in the worldwide United Methodist Church over its decision to repeal LGBTQ bans — and the ensuing formation of the new Global Methodist Church by breakaway conservative churches.

According to the news service, a United Methodist church member was shot and killed in a confrontation between both factions in Taraba, a state in northeast Nigeria. Homes were set ablaze, claiming the lives of two children, ages 2 and 4, of the overseer of a United Methodist school and nursery, the news service said. Another 10 church members were reported injured.

The worldwide Global Methodist Church held its inaugural general conference earlier this year. It was created by churches breaking away from the United Methodist Church — an international denomination with a strong U.S. presence.

While the UMC, at its general conference in May, lifted its longstanding bans on LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage, it also granted local conferences the right to set their own standards. The West Africa Central Conference, which includes Nigeria, restricts marriage to between a man and a woman and instructs its churches to follow national laws on LGBTQ issues, according to the news service.

In a statement, local United Methodist bishops condemned the violence and asked that there be no retribution.

"We are outraged that such an atrocity would occur among Christians, especially brothers and sisters who were once part of the same Methodist family," they said in a statement.

"We further urge GMC members, at all levels, to put an immediate end to the violence and refrain from disseminating misinformation that fuels fear and disdain that can lead to violence," they said.

The Assembly of Bishops of the Global Methodist Church issued a statement saying it is actively looking into the allegations and is seeking to determine what has happened.

"We mourn the loss of human life, decry the use of violence in any form, and call on both Global Methodists and United Methodists to serve as agents of peace," it said.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Activists, lawmakers in Nigeria coalesce against gender-based violence

Hundreds of people, including women’s rights activists, Nigerian lawmakers, and other participants, chanted as they walked from the National Assembly through the streets of Abuja on Monday.

The rally was part of Nigeria's participation in the United Nations-backed "16 Days of Activism," a campaign against gender-based violence, running from November 25 to December 10.

It also was an opportunity to announce the latest efforts by authorities to address gender-based violence — also referred to as GBV — in Nigeria.

Abbas Tajudeen, Nigeria's speaker of the House of Representatives, led lawmakers to the rally. It took place on the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

"Every 10 minutes a woman is being killed across the world. This is an unacceptable trend; this is an unforgivable trend," said Tajudeen. "We in the parliament must have to unite more than ever before with relevant authorities, particularly the law enforcement in ensuring that we cut this dangerous trend to the barest minimum."

Gender-based violence is a global problem. Nigerian authorities say about one-third of women between 15 and 49 experiences physical and sexual assault in their lifetimes.

The country also accounts for approximately 20 million GBV survivors — or about 10% of the global total.

Poor awareness, a low rate of reporting, cultural and religious biases, and trust deficits in the justice system are some of the challenges hampering efforts to address GBV in Nigeria.

Raquel Kasham Daniel is the founder of the non-profit "Beyond the Classroom Foundation," which promotes the rights of girls through education and advocacy.

"I think that policies that protect women and put the perpetrators behind bars will be very helpful," said Daniel, whose foundation is championing the sexual harassment bill in tertiary education. "That will be a very good one to pass, we hope that it gets the presidential assent soon."

Nigeria had previously launched a "sex offenders” registry to name and shame perpetrators of violence against women.

On Monday, Women Affairs Minister Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim announced the launch of a national electronic dashboard system to improve data collection and accountability.

Suleiman-Ibrahim said that besides preventive measures, authorities will review existing laws to ensure they protect survivors of gender-based violence.

"This occasion provides us yet another opportunity to renew those commitments and take deliberate actions to protect the rights, safety and dignity of women, girls and vulnerable people across Nigeria, said Suleiman-Ibrahim.

As authorities continue to make efforts to address the problem, many hope the new intervention offers a lifeline to millions of vulnerable people. Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide last year, followed by the Americas and Oceania, according to the United Nations’ Office on Drugs and Crime.

By Timothy Obiezu, VOA

Thursday, November 21, 2024

At least 50 insurgents killed, seven Nigerian officers missing after convoy attack

At least 50 Boko Haram fighters were killed on Tuesday and seven members of Nigeria's infrastructure security force were missing following an insurgent ambush on a convoy monitoring the country's power grid installations, a spokesperson said.

Boko Haram, which has waged an insurgency for 15 years mainly in the northeast, has been weakened by the military and internal fighting but remains a threat as it makes deadly attacks against civilians and government targets.

Babawale Afolabi, spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Defence Corp, a government agency set up to protect infrastructure, said security operatives were ambushed by about 200 Boko Haram fighters during the patrol mission.

Afolabi said more than 50 insurgents were killed in the fighting but seven operatives were missing, adding that efforts are underway to find them in the bush. He said "a few others" of the security force were wounded.

Although Boko Haram mainly operates in the northeast, Nigerian authorities say the group has cells in the largely Muslim Niger state, where they have previously carried attacks against the military and civilians.
In a separate attack in northeast Borno state, a military spokesperson said five soldiers were killed by suspected insurgents last Saturday. 

By Camillus Eboh, Reuters

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Suspected Boko Haram attack kills dozens in Nigeria

People gathered on Tuesday (September 3) in northeastern Nigeria, to bury the victims of a suspected Boko Haram attack in Yobe state.

Suspected Islamist militants belonging to the group roared into Mafa village on motorcycles on Sunday afternoon, opening fire on a market and setting shops and homes ablaze.

An early estimate from a military official said at least 37 people were killed in the attack.

But residents and officials said the death toll could be even higher, with villagers still missing and feared dead after fighters chased them into the bush.

A Yobe police spokesperson told Reuters the attack was an apparent retaliation for the killing of two suspected Boko Haram fighters by local vigilantes.

General Dahiru Abdulsallam is a special adviser on security matters in Yobe state.

‘’Coward Boko Haram that went and attacked innocent citizens in their villages and killed them, so we came to bury them and to also condole their families and relations as well as the local government.’’

Yobe is one of three states at the frontline of an insurgency that has lasted 15 years.

Thousands of Nigerians have been killed and more than two million people have been displaced.

Reuters

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Doctors strike in Nigeria over kidnapped colleague

Doctors in Nigerian public hospitals have started a seven-day nationwide strike to demand the release of their colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who has been held by kidnappers for eight months.


The mother of five was taken from her home in the middle of the night on 27 December alongside her husband and a niece.

Her husband was released in March after a ransom was reportedly paid but the kidnappers held onto the ophthalmologist and her relative.

The doctors say they will not even provide emergency care during the strike.

Dr Popoola works for the National Eye Centre hospital in Kaduna, north-west Nigeria, and lives in the official quarters provided by the hospital.

The hospital is one of the biggest eye hospitals in the country.

Experts say the hospital's location on the outskirts of Kaduna city makes it an easy target for kidnappers.

In 2021, dozens of students were taken from the nearby college of forestry.

Dr Taiwo Shittu of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital said what happened to Dr Popoola could happen to anyone.

“We want the authorities to act fast, this has dragged on for too long,” he said in a video on social media.

The doctors feel the security agencies are not doing enough to secure her release.

The kidnappers are asking for 40m naira (£19,000; $25,000) for their freedom.

Although a controversial law criminalising ransom payments came into effect in 2022, they are still often paid by relatives desperate to free their loved-ones.

The law carries a jail sentence of at least 15 years for anyone who pays a ransom, although no-one has yet been convicted.

The government is yet to comment on the strike or the doctor’s situation.

President of the doctors' association Dr Dele Abdullahi told BBC News that “the family was exploring a diplomatic route initially, but they have now given us the permission to explore other options”.

The doctors' association recently held a march in public hospitals across the country and gave the government a two-week ultimatum for “the unconditional release” of Dr Popoola.

In recent years, kidnapping has become rife in Nigeria, with hundreds of people abducted, largely by criminal gangs who see it as an easy way to make money. It has been particularly bad in the north-west of the country.

By Azeezat Olaoluwa & Mansur Abubakar, BBC

Related story: Police say 20 abducted Nigerian medical students freed

Monday, August 26, 2024

Pro-Iran militants kill 2 Nigerian police officers

An attack Sunday by an outlawed pro-Iran Nigerian Shiite group killed at least two law enforcement officers, police said, with three more found unconscious in the capital Abuja.

The capital's police force confirmed "an unprovoked attack by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)... on some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force," said a statement by police spokesperson Josephine Adeh.

During the attack on a police checkpoint, "two police personnel were killed, three [were] left unconscious in the hospital, and three police patrol vehicles [were] set ablaze," Adeh added.

Inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the late 1970s, the IMN still maintains close ties with Tehran.

It has long been at loggerheads with Nigeria's secular authorities and was banned in 2019.

Sunday's attackers carried out their assault wielding machetes, knives and improvised explosive devices, according to the police.

With several arrests made, Abuja's police commissioner, Benneth C. Igweh, condemned the "unprovoked attack," vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The situation is presently under control and normalcy restored," the police statement added.

In July 2021, after more than five years in prison, IMN leader Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife were released by a court in Kaduna, in the north of the country.

A Shiite cleric, Zakzaky has repeatedly called for an Iranian-style Islamic revolution in Nigeria — where the Muslim population is predominantly Sunni.

AFP

Police say 20 abducted Nigerian medical students freed

Twenty Nigerian medical students who were kidnapped on their way to a convention have been freed more than a week after their abduction, police said.

Gunmen seized the students on August 15 as they travelled to a conference in Benue State, in the centre of the country, and later demanded a ransom.

“We confirm the release on Friday of our brothers and sisters and some other Nigerians who have been in captivity in Ntunkon forest, Benue State,” Nigerian police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said on Saturday.

State police said in a statement that they had “confirmed the release of the 20 students from the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos”.

The students were freed “without any ransom paid”. The group was “rescued tactically and professionally”, according to Adejobi.

The country’s police chief had this week deployed a “tactical squad” in Benue State as part of efforts to find the latest victims of a rising wave of abductions in Africa’s most populous country.

Fortune Olaye, secretary-general of the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NIMSA), also confirmed the release to the AFP news agency. “We’ve spoken to them on the phone. They are safe,” Olaye said.

The students were abducted while on the road in a convoy of two buses near the town of Otukpo, less than 150km (93 miles) from Enugu, which often witnesses attacks and kidnappings.

Armed gangs have been kidnapping villagers, students and motorists for ransom in northern Nigeria, with security forces unable to end the practice.

Thousands of people are abducted for ransom in Nigeria each year, though there are few reliable statistics as many cases are not reported. Cases of kidnapping have increased significantly due to a severe economic crisis which is pushing more people towards crime.

The Nigerian consultancy, SBM Intelligence, said it had recorded 4,777 kidnappings in the country between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu taking power in May 2023 and January 2024.

Al Jazeera

Related story: Nigeria police deploy drones to search for kidnapped medical students

Friday, August 23, 2024

At least 10 farmers killed by gunmen in northern Nigeria

Gunmen in Nigeria killed at least 10 farmers on Wednesday in an attack on a village in the northern Niger state, residents said.

Armed gangs, known locally as bandits, have frequently raided communities in northwest Nigeria, kidnapping residents, farmers, students and motorists for ransom.

Residents told Reuters on Thursday that the gunmen had attacked some farmers in Allawa community of Shiroro local government area in Niger late the previous day.

"The farmers were trapped and 10 killed yesterday evening in their respective farms," said Hassan Abubakar.

Another resident, Indamishe Auwal, who helped remove the corpses, lamented the incident and the general insecurity in the area.

"Shiroro is bleeding. Our people are suffering and bandits have taken over our farmlands," Auwal said.

Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

By Ahmed Kingimi, Reuters

Related story: Nigeria deploys armed rangers to protect farmers

 

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Bandits kill Nigeria Gov’s aide, wife, abduct 28 others

Gunmen stormed the residence of Salisu Ango, Governor Umar Dikko Radda’s liaison officer, in Gyaza village, Kankia Local Government Area, Katsina State, killing him and his first wife. His second wife was also abducted during the attack.

Ango, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Kankia Chapter was shot dead by the bandits who invaded his home on Friday, August 16, 2024.

In another incident of banditry in Kankia Local Government Area, bandits on Saturday night reportedly carried out a raid on Tashar Gamji community. The armed criminals moved from house to house, stealing an unspecified number of domestic animals. Residents reported that the bandits also made away with food items and other valuables during the attack.

Also, in a separate attack but this time, on Shirgi community in Batsari Local Government Area, the gunmen killed one person, injured another, and abducted 28 others. The assailants also rustled several domestic animals from the community.

A resident of Shirgi, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bandits invaded the village on Sunday night, targeting women and children. The assailants shot and killed one ‘Amadu Suru’ while he was trying to secure his animals.

The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed both attacks. While the command has acknowledged the incident in Kankia, it is yet to confirm the details of the Shirgi attack, promising to release an official statement after receiving a report from the Divisional Police Officer in Batsari.

Unlike Batsari, Kankia has historically been less affected by banditry. However, sharing borders with Dutsinma and Danmusa, areas notorious for bandit attacks, has made Kankia vulnerable to occasional incursions. The recent killing of the governor’s aide is one example of this growing threat.

Vanguard

Related story: Fate of pastor, 13-year-old daughter kidnapped in Nigeria unknown after ransom payment


Nigeria police deploy drones to search for kidnapped medical students

Police in Nigeria are searching for 20 medical students who were kidnapped by gunmen last Thursday.


The students were on their way to a medical convention when their motorcade was intercepted in central Benue State. The Benue State police command on Monday said it has launched an investigation into the abduction of the medical students and deployed tactical teams on a rescue mission.

But they said the teams have not reported any success. Twenty medical students from the universities of Jos and Maiduguri and a medical doctor travelling with them were taken on their way to the conference in eastern Enugu State. Anene Sewuese Catherine, the Benue state police public relations officer, spoke to VOA via phone.

“The team has moved but we've not heard from them," Catherine said. "Investigation of kidnap is classified, we don't [share] details or until there's success. There's no update for now."

The abduction sparked widespread condemnation over insecurity in Africa's most populous nation, where authorities have struggled for several years to control violence from armed gangs locally referred to as "bandits."

Over the weekend, the national police ordered the deployment of helicopters, drones and specialized tactical teams to aid in the search for the medical students. The Nigerian Medical Students Association said the abductors, using the students’ phones, issued a demand of about $31,400 to release the entire group.

The association has been urging authorities to secure the release of the students unharmed. The association’s national president, Moses Onwubuya, said students are threatening to protest if their colleagues are not released soon.

"The only response we've been getting is that we should just calm down, that security agencies are in the matter," Onwubuya said. "Calls have been going out through the phone numbers of our abducted colleagues. Students are agitating, we're only trying to see if we can abide by the security guidelines, but I can't guarantee what will happen any moment from now."

According to Center for Democracy and Development — West Africa, Nigeria recorded more than 4,000 abductions in 2023, accounting for 58 percent of the total cases in West Africa and the highest in five years.

Security analysts say a severe economic crisis in Nigeria is pushing more people toward crime and kidnapping for ransom. Nigerian authorities have pledged to address economic problems along with security challenges. Meanwhile, families of victims are hoping their loved ones return to them safely.

VOA

Related story: Video - Nigerian authorities working to secure release kidnapped students

Fate of pastor, 13-year-old daughter kidnapped in Nigeria unknown after ransom payment

 The whereabouts of a pastor and his daughter kidnapped in northwestern Nigeria were unknown after their captors threatened to kill them even after receiving a ransom payment.

Isa Andrew, chaplain with All Saints Protestant Church of the Zamfara State Police Command, and his 13-year-old daughter, Grace Isa Andrew, were kidnapped from their home in Gusau on July 14. Relatives and friends had managed to pay a ransom of 6 million naira ($3,770 USD), only to have the captors threaten to kill him if they did not receive another 6 million naira along with three motorcycles by Aug. 15.

Relatives received a video of the blindfolded pastor making an appeal for payment of the ransom, his daughter standing beside him with an AK-47 rifle strapped to her shoulder as a sign that she would be married off and made to join the assailants.

Pastor Andrew in the video identified himself as a pastor and chaplain who worked with the Interfaith Directorate of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), saying his daughter, Grace, was with him. He said that after they were kidnapped from their home, his family paid a ransom of 6 million naira, but that the captors upon collection demanded another payment of the same amount along with two Boxer motorcycles and a Honda motorcycle.

“We did all we could, we sold everything that we have; sold our properties, sold our car, sold our items; we took loans, my brother took loans, my wife took loans persons of goodwill also assisted us to raise the 6 million naira that was demanded,” Pastor Andrew said. “As it is, fellow Nigerians, I want to beg of you, I want to beg of our nation’s first lady, the mother of the nation, to please come to our aid. She’s the Esther of our time, please come to our aid.

He said his daughter was “being exposed to a lot of maltreatment, exposed to starvation,” and that he was a diabetic whose health was deteriorating each day.

“Please come to our aid, assist us. We have been given from now up to next week Thursday, 15 August, 2024, otherwise I will be executed, and my daughter will be forcefully married out. She’s just 13 years of age,” he said. “Please help us. I need your help. The Lord bless you.”

The Zamfara State Police command confirmed the kidnapping of the pastor and his daughter in the wee hours of July 14. State Police Commissioner Mohammed Dalijan said 53 patrol vehicles had been deployed to various streets in Gusau.

Gusau resident Timothy Soladoye obtained a copy of the video and confirmed that it was his pastor who was kidnapped with his daughter.

“We are still contributing for his release,” Soladoye told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News before the Aug. 15 deadline. “Please let us share and do something for their possible release before the said Thursday, 15 August.”

The video was widely circulated across social media platforms on Aug. 10.

Gusau resident Emmanuel Bulus also sent out a plea.

“Isa Andrew is not only a dedicated civilian working with the Nigerian police but also serves as a chaplain in their church,” Bulus said. “My fellow Nigerians, I implore you, let’s not allow this tragedy to unfold. We must rally together to save Isa and Grace and reunite them with their wife and mother and two other children.”

Pastor Andrew was reportedly abducted eight days after gunmen released parish priest Mikah Suleiman of St. Raymond Catholic Church Damba, who had been kidnapped for 16 days.

In Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List (WWL) of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year. Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023, according to the WWL report.

More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300. Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

The Christian Post

Related story: Nigeria police working to secure release of 20 kidnapped medical students

Monday, August 19, 2024

Video - Nigerian authorities working to secure release kidnapped students



The 20 students were kidnapped while heading to a convention in Benue State on Thursday evening.

CGTN

Related story: Nigeria police working to secure release of 20 kidnapped medical students

 

Nigeria police working to secure release of 20 kidnapped medical students

Nigerian police and security agencies are working to secure the release of 20 medical students who were kidnapped in the eastern part of the country, officials say.

The medical students were on their way to an annual convention when they were abducted in Benue State on Thursday evening, police and university sources said on Saturday.

The Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students said in a statement that the students were travelling to the convention in the city of Enugu when they were taken.

Fortune Olaye, the secretary-general of the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association, said 20 medical students from two universities, as well as one doctor travelling with them, had been kidnapped.

It added that there had been a ransom demand in return for their release.

In a Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) letter to the inspector general of police, posted on the social media platform X, NMA secretary-general Benjamin Egbo said 12 of the abducted students were from the University of Jos and eight were from the University of Maiduguri.

One of the students managed to share their location, indicating that they were in the Oglewu Ehaje area in Benue State, the letter said.

“The Nigerian Medical Association is deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of these future medical professionals,” it added, saying that swift and decisive action to secure their return was “crucial”.

The kidnapping was also confirmed by Catherine Anene, public relations officer for police in Benue State.

Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue State, said in a statement that he had “directed security agencies in the state to intensify efforts and ensure the safe release” of the students.

The national police said in a statement that it had ordered the deployment of “advanced helicopters and drones, as well as the use of specialized tactical vehicles to facilitate the search and secure the safe return of the victims”.

The kidnapped students were reportedly travelling from the northern part of the country in a convoy of two buses when the incident occurred, Nigeria’s This Day newspaper reported.

The students were abducted on the road near the town of Otukpo, less than 150km (93 miles) from Enugu, which often witnesses attacks and kidnappings.

Cases of kidnapping have increased significantly in Nigeria due to a severe economic crisis which is pushing more people towards crime. However, official figures are unreliable as many cases are not reported.

In 2022, a law was passed banning payments to kidnappers – but many families say they feel they have no choice but to cough up the ransoms demanded.

Nigerian consultancy firm SBM Intelligence said it had recorded 4,777 cases between May 2023, when Bola Tinubu assumed charge as president, and January 2024.

Al Jazeera

Related stories: Briton killed in Nigeria hostage release

Seven dead, 100 kidnapped after attack in northern Nigeria

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Bandits kill 30 in Nigerian village

Last week, bandits attacked Ayati village in Benue State, Nigeria, slaughtering at least 30 civilians. While state officials haven’t officially determined any motive, the attack fits a disturbing pattern of persecution across northern Nigeria.

According to Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada, “Around Christmas [last year], 238, Christians were killed in 40 majority-Christian villages in [Nigeria] by Fulani militant herdsmen.”

This year, attacks have continued across Nigeria, even spreading beyond typical Fulani territory into southern parts of Nigeria – or beyond Nigeria’s borders altogether. “It’s becoming more and more of a situation where the violence is getting out of control [and] the government doesn’t seem to help protect [against] it.”

It’s not just the Fulani herdsmen; multiple groups are inflicting violent persecution against Christians. The Islamic State’s influence continues to move across country lines; Boko Haram seeks to make Nigeria an Islamic caliphate; and the Fulani herdsmen are using religious radicalism as an excuse to expand their territory.

Unfortunately, Christians and moderate Muslims make for vulnerable targets.

“Christians being infidels, they’re worthy of death,” Musselman says. “They’re finding that common ground there… Christians are often caught in the crosshairs, and in many cases, they’re the most vulnerable targets.”

But that’s not where this story ends.

“The church is growing in Nigeria in the midst of all the persecution,” Musselman says. “Even in the midst of all the bloodshed and all the pain and the hurt and all these things are going on, people are responding to the gospel.”

By Alex Anhalt, Mission Network News

Friday, July 12, 2024

Nigeria violated human rights during police brutality protests

A regional African court has ruled that Nigerian authorities violated the rights of protesters during mass demonstrations against police brutality in 2020.

The protests, dubbed End SARS, called for disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad after allegations of torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings.

A coalition of human rights activists and organizations sued in late 2021. Applicants Obianuju Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka alleged severe human rights violations by state agents as they put down the street protests.

In its verdict issued Wednesday, a three-member panel of the Court of Justice - linked with the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS - determined that Nigerian authorities had used disproportionate force in their response to the protests.

The panel said security agents had violated the African Charter on Human and People's Rights as well as several international human rights laws.

Bolaji Gabari, lead counsel representing the applicants, welcomed the verdict.

"Justice is finally achieved and obtained. ... What we were really looking for was to get an affirmation that this really happened," Gabari said. "This judgment just affirms what we have been saying. The other applicants that came forward initially considered their safety and withdrew."

The ECOWAS court ordered the Nigerian government to compensate each applicant with $6,400, or about 10 million naira; to investigate the rights abuses; and to show progress on holding offenders responsible within six months.

The court also stated that the use of live rounds against protesters at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020, caused fear, and that the Nigerian government did not present evidence refuting those allegations.

Authorities have not responded to the court ruling, and a national police spokesperson did not take VOA's calls for comment.

But human rights groups like Amnesty International and some activists welcomed the court’s decision as a significant victory for human rights in Nigeria.

Nelson Olanipekun, a human rights lawyer and founder of Citizens' Gavel, a civic organization that seeks to improve the pace of justice delivery through the use of technology, said, "The ECOWAS court judgment came at a right time, especially now that Nigerians are going through tough times. And there's also a regional move where Africans largely are recognizing their power as citizens. For example, what happened in Kenya — people demanding accountability from their government — was also similar to what happened during End SARS."

Olanipekun said, however, that more work needs to be done.

"What is the next move? Since End SARS, even though the police have tried, there has been reoccurrence of incidents of police brutality in the country," he said. "It has not abated. There's no sufficient accountability and oversight over government organizations. Also, the Nigerian court has been weak, inefficient and corrupt. They're not independent enough."

Thousands of young Nigerians poured into the streets in October 2020 to demand the dissolution of the SARS unit, but the protest soon expanded to call for better governance before it was forcefully quelled on October 20.

Last October, Amnesty International said at least 15 End SARS protesters languished in a Lagos jail while activists marked the third anniversary of the protests. 


By Timothy Obiezu, VOA

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Escalating violence in northeast Nigeria causes despair among displaced populations



The worsening violence in northeast of the country has left internally displaced persons in Borno state stranded in temporary accommodations. Recent bomb attacks have further complicated their hopes of returning home, prolonging their displacement.

CGTN

Monday, July 1, 2024

At least 30 dead, more than 100 injured after multiple suicide bombings in Nigeria

At least 30 people are dead and more than 100 were left injured after multiple suicide bombings were carried out at various locations in Nigeria over the weekend, sources said Sunday.

The first attack on Saturday was carried out by a woman, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, the Emir of Gwoza, told journalists.

"The first suicide attack was masterminded by an unidentified woman who sneaked with two children into a wedding reception of a popular young man in Gwoza; she detonated her Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), killing herself and many people," the Emir said.

"A few minutes after, another suicide bomber sneaked into a burial ceremony ... nearby and detonated improvised explosive devices, and as [I] am talking to you now, the third explosion just occurred [a] few minutes ago with more casualties,” the Emir added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks, calling them desperate acts of terror that showed the pressure mounted against terrorists and the success achieved in inhibiting their ability to launch offensives.

Tinubu said his administration is taking necessary measures to secure the safety of citizens. He also vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombings.

By James Bwala, ABC News