Nigeria: Muslims murder Christian physician and 17 other Christians

JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Armed Fulani shot a Christian doctor to death on June 17 in Niger state, Nigeria following attacks that killed 17 Christians in Plateau state.

Precious Emeka Chinedu was killed after five Fulani herdsmen walked into the private hospital he operated in Salka village, Magama County, and abducted him the evening of June 17, area residents told Morning Star News. Chinedu was later shot to death, said area resident Emmanuel Ezeugo.

“His dead body was found by the local vigilantes the following morning in the bush where he was shot and killed by the herdsmen,” Ezeugo told Morning Star News.

A long-time friend, Baridueh Badon, confirmed the killing.

“His killers, who are herdsmen, came to the hospital, specifically asked for him, didn’t harm anybody, collected his money, took him away, and killed him without asking for ransom,” Badon told Morning Star News. “What did he do wrong? Your blood will keep crying until justice is done.”

Chinedu had moved to Niger state after finishing medical studies at the University of Ibadan, Oyo state, to start the hospital, he said.

“Everyone loved him, always smiling, and he was one of the most hard-working persons I have ever known,” Badon said. “His hospital boomed because he was saving lives. If you had any problems, Emeka would be there to help.”

About 1,000 Christians have been displaced in Niger state following herdsmen attacks on their villages and are in urgent need of shelter, food and health care, according to humanitarian agency Global Christian Missions.

“The entire Sakaba and Wasagu local government areas of Niger state have been completely sacked by Fulani herdsmen terrorists,” Moses Godspecial, vision coordinator for the agency, told Morning Star News. “These Christians ran to various villages in Kamaia Local Government Area in Kwara state, also in north-central Nigeria.”

Lives Devastated in Plateau State

In Plateau state, also in north-central Nigeria, Fulani herdsmen killed 17 Christians in various attacks this month.

At least 14 Christians were killed in an attack on June 13 on Sabon Layi (Kushe) village, Kuru District, of Jos South County, sources said.

Area resident George Dung said armed Fulani herdsmen attacked the village at about 9 p.m.

“So far, 14 corpses of Christians killed have been recovered as of 1 a.m. [June14],” Dung told Morning Star News in a text message.

Seven other Christians were wounded and were receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Enos Hospital, Miango, local sources said….

The APPG report noted that tribal loyalties cannot be overlooked.

“In 2015, Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani, was elected president of Nigeria,” the group reported. “He has done virtually nothing to address the behavior of his fellow tribesmen in the Middle Belt and in the south of the country.”

The U.S. State Department on Dec. 7 added Nigeria to its list of Countries of Particular Concern for engaging in or tolerating “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.” Nigeria joined Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on the list.

In a more recent category of non-state actors, the State Department also designated ISWAP, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Greater Sahara, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, and the Taliban as “Entities of Particular Concern.”

On Dec. 10 the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, issued a statement calling for investigation into crimes against humanity in Nigeria.