Before people could raise the alarm, the bandits were already upon them,” Fr. Dewan further said, and continued, “People were summarily shot and killed, houses and corn that had been harvested were set ablaze, and churches and clinics were also set on fire.”
“I had gone to this same community for Christmas Mass for the Catholic community that morning. From Tudun Mazat, the Fulani terrorists descended on Maiyanga, killing thirteen. Around 20 other communities were attacked that night,” he narrated.
Survivors and eyewitnesses were reportedly categorical in saying that those who attacked the villages were Fulani militia or mercenaries.
In the January 8 ACN report, Fr. Dewan is quoted as saying that in communities where the Christians live side by side with Fulanis, not one Fulani person was affected, and no Fulani houses were burned.
As for the motive of the attacks, he said, “I am not sure, but it may be connected with attacks that took place in the neighboring local government, called Mangu. The Fulanis attacked the communities there, and they had expected the Christians in Bokkos area, especially those communities bordering Mangu, to allow them access, but they refused. So, I think they came back to attack the communities because of that.”
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He said that the fact that it was Christmas time also contributed to the attacks against Christians.
“For those who believe that this conflict is not religious, this latest attack proves that it is clearly a religious conflict,” Fr. Dewan said, and explained, “The fact that it took place at Christmas and the deliberate targeting of Christians in a mixed community, where Muslims are not attacked, clearly bears all the hallmarks of a religious conflict.”
He added, “I know that not everybody would like to admit that, but for me, having been on the ground, observing and writing about this, it bears the hallmarks of a religious conflict.”
The Catholic Priest says that he finds it unfortunate that Nigeria is “dealing with absentee leaders.”
“Our leaders don’t live in the community, so they don’t understand the problems that are bothering the people, and we are getting to the point where if something is not done drastically to deal with this gathering storm, the tendency for people to take the law into their hands is quite high,” Fr. Dewan told ACN International.
Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya’s Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.
