It was a tragic tale of murder of three people, including two young siblings and a 27-year-old man in the recent violent clash between members of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) and the Global Methodist Church in Nigeria (GMCN) in the Munga-Dosso community, in Karim-Lamido Local Council of Taraba State.
The first victim, 27-year-old Elisha Masoyi, a UMCN member and brother to the church’s Lay Leader, was reportedly shot dead during the violence.
The Guardian gathered that two siblings, four-year-old and two-year-old, died when their home was set ablaze by suspected attackers from one of the factions.
It was learnt that the deceased children were the offsprings of Mr. Abraham Kefas, the overseer of the Divine Success UMCN Nursery and Primary School in Munga-Dosso.
Apart from the killings, about 10 people sustained injuries in the attack and are presently undergoing medical attention.
Houses belonging to members of one of the factions, were also reportedly torched, including that of Dogara Salihu, the church’s secretary.
At press time, 1,000 worshippers who are predominantly women and children have been displaced.
The violence reportedly erupted on Sunday, December 15, when three GMCN pastors led members of their faction to forcefully enter the sealed UMCN No.1 in Munga-Dosso.
However, GMCN’s attempt to gain access to the church was resisted by UMCN members, and led to clashes, which escalated and spread to UMCN No. 3.
It was gathered that the conflict stemmed from a longstanding division between the UMCN and GMCN factions.
The Taraba State Government had sealed three UMCN churches in Munga-Dosso—UMCN No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3—to prevent a breakdown of law and order after the GMCN faction broke away.
The district Superintendent of UMCN in Munga-Dosso, Rev. Alim Thomas, said his efforts to involve the police to prevent the violence were unsuccessful.
Following the violence, 23 UMCN members were reportedly arrested by the Nigerian Army.
Speaking with The Guardian, via a telephone, the state police command, through its Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Usman Abdullahi, said that the crisis which led to the death of two children and one other person followed the unsealing of one of church building for service by some members of the GMCN.
