Christmas attacks kill 46 in Nigeria and DRC

In the week leading up to Christmas, and on Christmas Day, 46 people were killed in various attacks across Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

A time of year which should be celebratory for Christians around the world has been devastating for many communities in sub-Saharan Africa. In the week leading up to Christmas, and on Christmas Day, 46 people were killed in various attacks across Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Attacked coming home from Christmas service

Christian communities in Kwande local government area, in Nigeria’s Benue State, were returning from their Christmas morning celebrations when Fulani militants attacked. Many of the believers were preparing their homes for Christmas lunch when the Islamic extremists caught them off guard. Eleven Christians were killed in the attack.

“They went to church, and after returning home from the service, families were preparing meals, and some were gathering and relaxing at spots to celebrate Christmas when a combined team of armed herdsmen and Jukum militia started attacking from five different places,” Solomon Amande, a survivor from one of the communities, told Vanguard news. “They were chasing people and shooting sporadically, and whoever they caught up with was killed.”

Some believers are still missing. Most Christians in these rural communities are subsistence farmers and completely dependent on their land for survival.

14 killed earlier in Christmas week

Earlier in the week, on 22 December, armed men attacked the Gidan Ado community of Riyom local government area in Nigeria’s Plateau State, killing 14 people. According to a local contact, the attack took place between midnight and one o’clock in the morning. Those murdered were aged between one and 52 years old.

“We are very concerned for the safety of Christian communities in Benue and Plateau state, especially those who are living in informal displacement camps,” says Jo Newhouse*, Open Doors spokesperson for sub-Saharan Africa.

She continues, “Thousands of Christians are still traumatised from the attacks they have barely survived this year, others are still reeling from the horror of the attacks and the loss of their loved ones from last Christmas. We are calling on the Nigerian Security Forces to do everything they can to protect vulnerable communities from extremist attacks.”

21 killed by ADF in DRC

During the same period, in North Kivu province in eastern DRC, suspected rebels from Islamic militant group ADF killed at least 21 people.

“From 21-22 December, 18 civilians were killed in the village of Robinet,” Samuel Kakule Kagheni, president of the local civil society, told Radio Okapi. “The rebels burned houses and took away property. By surprise, on 25 December, less than four kilometres from Makele, we found three other lifeless bodies, killed by the attackers.”

Though it’s not clear if all 21 civilians that were killed are Christians, believers are regularly the target of the ADF as they try to establish a caliphate state in central Africa. That, coupled with the timing of these attacks during Christmas week, indicates that some or all of the 21 victims were Christians and targeted for their faith.

Please join in praying for these communities and for all vulnerable believers in the region.

*Name changed for security reasons