Pastor Yohanna Gyang Jugu, of Church of Christ in Nigeria, sat outside his burned-down church, tears in his eyes.
“We were sleeping and we heard gunshots all around,” he said. “I woke up and went outside. There was nowhere to pass. Fulani men had surrounded the village. They caught my wife and killed her, and my daughter. They were cutting people down with machetes.”
During the burial service, Solomn Zang, the commissioner for works and transport in Plateau State, where Dogo Nahawa is located, said that the military was not sufficient for protection.
“God willing, we will do something about this,” he said. “Next time if this happens you shouldn’t call the police or the military, call on your neighbors to come and fight.”
Lord have mercy.
I think outside police-type intervention will be necessary in order to bring an end to this situation.
How poignant and heartbreaking! I’m glad a mainstream publication like the WSJ covered this horrible story. But it makes for depressing reading, with the grim quotes from those seeking vengeance and the lamentable killing of the Muslim journalist observing the mass burial.
I’m glad Kendall has now posted above the wonderful letter by ++Ben Kwashi that responds in such a marvelous Christian manner to this inexcusable atrocity.
David Handy+