Emmanuel Obiukwu lost his four daughters on that dark Christmas Day at Madalla a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory. Many also lost their loved ones. Emmanuel Obiukwu’s four daughters were among the worshippers at St Theresa’s Church Madalla where 26 were killed in a suicide bombing 12 years ago. that day. Obiukwu died recently.
In another terrifying and morbid attack, hundreds have been left dead in Plateau state after several villages were again struck on Christmas eve.
As insecurity continues unabated in Nigeria, two US presidential award-winning humanitarians, Dr. William Devlin (2022) and Emmanuel Ogebe, Esq (2009) have bemoaned the horrific atrocities on Nigeria’s Christians this Christmas.
The pastor and lawyer attended the 12th anniversary of the 2011 Christmas day bombing of St. Theresa’s church Madalla only to learn of new attacks this Christmas claiming almost 200 lives.
Plateau state Governor Caleb Mutfwang said the “terrifying Christmas was well coordinated with heavy weaponry burning 17 villages” killing over a hundred Christians in three provinces.
“Monitoring the 2011 Christmas atrocities from the US, I saw coordinated attacks in Yobe, Plateau & Niger states killing hundreds and which my cousins barely survived. 2023 is the deadliest Christmas since 2011,” Nigeria expert & human rights advocate Emmanuel Ogebe said.
“This Christmas eve was the 20th anniversary of Boko Haram’s terror campaign. Now the Fulani killer militia have perpetrated their own Christmas terror massacres rivaling their triple digit slaughters in Benue (New Year’s day) and Plateau states (June) 2018,” said Ogebe, Special Counsel, Justice for Jos Project that has documented and investigated atrocities since 2010.
“I wanted to go to Gaza next however what I am witnessing here in Nigeria is genocide on steroids but the world isn’t paying attention,” Dr Devlin Volunteer CEO of Widows & Orphans USA stated. “Our plans to help rebuild is held up by the continuous cycle of bloodletting since our June visit to Plateau state. The scale of humanitarian aid required can’t keep up to the level of ongoing devastation.”
Ogebe and Devlin maintain that more Christians have been killed in Nigeria than the rest of the world combined for 11 out of the last 12 years per data of World Watch Monitor & Justice for Jos Project. On average, a Christian is killed every two hours making it the deadliest country for Christians. The US government under Biden has omitted Nigeria from an annual religious freedom review and sanctions regime required by the International Religious Freedom Act.
“Very few things on the planet show America’s betrayal of the present day martyrs of the Christian faith than the inaction, non-recognition and in fact active suppression of the harsh reality of death, death and more death in Nigeria. It’s past time to end the blood torrents of innocents,” the humanitarian duo declared during their 15th relief mission to Nigeria post-COVID.
“Nigeria’s Christians face double travesty. They are devoured in life and ignored in death. It’s deeply troubling that these massacres by the Fulani terror militia which occurred freely under Gen. Buhari (their kinsman former ruler) continue when non-Fulanis are in power. Credible sources tell us security forces had intelligence on these impending attacks 12hours ahead,” Ogebe disclosed.
“Like Hamas also just did, the Fulani terrorists video recorded their atrocities and posted them online. This is a first for the Fulani terrorists and possibly a sign of collaboration with the more media savvy ISIS West Africa and Hamas. INTERPOL should investigate this. Plateau state has seen a long history of Boko Haram and Fulani killer militia collaboration.
“Sadly, again, just like they initially did with Boko Haram, the US and the world fail to recognize the barbaric acts of the Fulani militia as terrorism,” he concluded.
“Also on Christmas eve, a Catholic Church was attacked in southeast Nigerian Ebonyi state killing worshippers & broadening the religious violence beyond the notorious northern hotbed – putting it fully at par with the 2011 multi-state attacks,” they said.
