The Catholic Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need: “Biased and prejudiced official security reports heighten tension when they blame the victims instead of the aggressors because of the Nigerian ‘factor’ of tribal or religious affiliation. This sadly keeps the fire of the crisis raging.
“Generally, it is when the militant herdsmen vanish after their deadly attacks that the poor villagers try to react to protect or defend themselves.”
Muslim Fulani herdsman and Christian Jukun Kona farmers in Taraba State have clashed for years but violence has become more frequent and tensions worse this year.
According to the prelate, around May and June this year 65 people were killed, 9,000 people displaced and 15 churches, two primary schools and a health centre destroyed during Fulani attacks on 18 predominantly Christian villages.
Kona assaults on members of the Fulani ethnic group also caused damage, including the torching of two mosques. More than 23 Fulani were killed.
Archbishop Kaigama said: “Three persons were killed the morning of my visit of 10th July.
“The violence went on unchecked for a protracted period and the population of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) began to swell because of the increasing attacks of the gunmen.”
The archbishop, himself a member of the Kona minority, described contacting senior officials to…
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