Says 384 Christians Killed, 111 Injured so far in 2016 alone
Contact: Dr. Ade Oyesile, Executive Director, Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN, 516-819-4355, Ade.oyesile@cananusa.org, cananusa@gmail.com
NEW YORK, July 27, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Members of Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) strongly condemn the horrible killings of Nigerian Christians by Muslims across the country.
Speaking through the Executive Director, Dr. Ade' Oyesile, said, "we are saddened by the rapid occurrences of these atrocious killings without a corresponding accountability being meted to the growing list of perpetrators." CANAN now calls on the federal government to go beyond mere expression of shock at the vicious killings and set in motion practical steps to stem this ugly spectacle of continuous massacre of Christians.
As at July 20, 2016, our records show that at least 384 Christians have been killed and 111 injured in various parts of the country. With just weeks past midyear, this figure compares in a scaring proportion to a total of 431 deaths and 301 injured Christians in the entire 2015.
These killings, we noticed, are carried out either by tit-for-tat attacks, arson on properties especially churches or the targeted systemic killings of Christians perpetuated by the Boko Haram terrorist religious sectarian group.
Our figures of Christians killed and maimed by Muslims corroborates with documentation by "The Religion of Peace," a magazine that chronicles attack on Christians. The magazine gives even more details of the vicious killings in 2016 alone as follows:
On January 27, at least16 Christians were killed and 32 injured when a suicide bomber sent a shrapnel at a vegetable market in Chibok a Christian town in Maiduguri.
On January 29, in Adamawa, 10 Christians were killed and 28 injured when a suicide bomber detonates a bomb at a busy market near a church. All the victims were Christians.
On February 14 in Abbi community in Uzo-Uwani, Enugu State, Fulani herdsmen killed 2 Christians when a brother and sister were hacked down in a Christian dominated community. 19 people were injured.
On February 24 in Agatu, Benue State, the nation witnessed the merciless killings of at least 300 Christians by radical Islamic mercenaries including pregnant women.
In Enugu on April 25, 48 Christians were killed and 60 injured also perpetuated by Fulani herdsmen.
On April 30 in Dadawa, an outskirt of Sabongari in Kano State, a man and his daughter were burnt alive in a church by Boo Haram.
At Ninte village, in Jema’a local government in Kaduna State on May 31, just a month after, 3 Christians were burnt to death in a Pastors' home as they slept.
In Kano on June 2, a Christian woman was beheaded by Islamic fundamentalist after a minor argument.
On June 30 at Obi town in Nasarawa State, a Pastor was killed by a militant Muslim.
The July 9 incident were a female Pastor was hacked to death in the FCT by Muslim radicals traumatized every right thinking individual.
This dastardly killings of Christians in the country MUST stop. It is most disappointing that these unprovoked killings of Christians have continued despite the federal government condemnation statements.
There is palpable anger in the land and it is anger without answers from the federal government has a direct responsibility to secure the lives of all citizens.
This is more so as we Christians do not preach gospel of retaliation, we preach peace and peace we are seeking now.
Whatever the federal government is doing, if any, is either too slow or insignificant compared with the reoccurrence of the killings; the federal government needs to step up and take bold actions to give members of the Christian community in the country a sense of security and belonging.
We MUST all work hard to avoid these sectarian killings which in our very eyes have made countries embroiled in it to become failed nations. That should not be our portion in Jesus Christ name.
Dr. Ade Oyesile
Executive Director
Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN
Ade.oyesile@cananusa.org, cananusa@gmail.com
