Race For Life: Christians In Nasarawa Take To Their Heels
By PHC Telegraph
Relatives cry as they mourn during a funeral service for 17 worshippers and two priests, who were allegedly killed by Fulani herdsmen, at Ayati-Ikpayongo in Gwer East district of Benue State, north-central Nigeria on May 22, 2018.
Christian worshippers who had gathered in Agboda in Nasarawa State took to their heels on Monday night when some men believed to be herdsmen reportedly disrupted an outdoor church crusade.
A video which is trending online which was replayed on the Morning Show broadcast on Tuesday by AriseNews showed some worshippers running for their dear lives as confusion broke out.
The video which has attracted many views may have helped to prove that the.lives of Christian in Northern Nigeria are indeed not safe despite the agreement reached between the US and Nigerian governments on how to tackle alleged Christian genocide.
Eyewitnesses say a group of suspected herdsmen approached the venue of the crusade. Their presence led to a stampede, causing panic among worshippers.
“We came in for crusade in this community today”, a man caught on video said, “but look at what the herdsmen did. As you can see, people are running”.
Red Cross officials inspect the damage at the burnt COCIN Church building in Mangu on February 2, 2024, following weeks of intercommunal violence and unrest in Plateau State.
The man in the video said there is a state of unrest in Nasarawa due to what Christians see as the nefarious activities of herdsmen.
Dr. Daniel Ukpo who organised the crusade told the Vanguard newspaper on phone that the incident occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. when participants had gathered for the programme.
According to him, people began running for safety after receiving reports of an attack in a nearby community.
He said: “One of the youths in the community was attacked while riding his motorcycle and suffered a machete cut. His motorcycle was also taken. When news of the attack reached us, confusion broke out and people began to flee.”
He explained that the crusade had to be halted abruptly due to the tension that followed.
Ukpo expressed concern over what he described as recurring incidents in the Mararaba Udege axis.
He recalled that during a recent visit to Ochimi community, residents expressed fear over their safety and the destruction of their crops.
He also noted that the presence of security operatives in the area was inadequate and uninspiring. “People are being attacked on the roads and on their farms, and many cases are not reported,” he added.