Nigerian Christians are facing continual persecution from religious extremists in a series of coordinated attacks.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported that 10 people were murdered in a brutal attack at the hands of Fulani militants on June 3, according to CBN News.
The assault was carried out at around 5:00 am in the Tudun Agwalla community in Kajuru, Kaduna state in northwest Nigeria.
One of the ten victims was a three-year-old girl named Elizabeth Samaila who was struck multiple times in the head by a machete. The young girl was taken to a hospital where she died the next day.
The other nine victims were killed after the Fulani militants hacked them to death using machetes. Six of the victims have been identified as Richard Yusuf, Kefas Yusuf, Fidelis Wada, Kachia, Genesis Soja, and Rahab Soja who were all buried in a mass grave.
Rita Friday, 8, also suffered an injury to the head during the attack.
Attacks on Christians have persisted despite COVID-19 restrictions that began in March.
“Southern Kaduna is steadily being transformed into killing fields, either due to a gross failure of governance, or official indifference and acquiescence,” CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said.
“International pressure must now be brought to bear on both the state and federal authorities to ensure protection for these vulnerable communities, and that effective action is taken to disarm all armed non-state actors, and bring the perpetrators of these horrific atrocities to justice,” Thomas added.
In a separate incident, a Nigerian pastor and his wife were shot dead by Islamic militia on June 1 in the town of Mararrba in Donga LGA, Taraba State. They are survived by eight children between the ages of one and 19.
As Christian Headlines previously reported, 2 Republican senators called for President Trump to send a special envoy to aid Nigerian Christians who were being persecuted.
Both Senators noted in the letter to the President that 40,000 Nigerians were killed by Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist organization.
It was also reported that Boko Haram killed more than 600 Nigerian Christians in the first five months of 2020.
Open Doors’ 2020 World Watch List ranks Nigeria as the 12th most difficult country for Christian’s to live because of persecution.
Related:
2 Senators Ask President Trump to Offer Aid to Persecuted Christian in Nigeria
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Naruedom
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
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