News release: Recent Muslim violence against Christians in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Read Anglican Diocese of Jos website for the latest information.
We have received reports over the last 24 hours of violent attacks on Christians in the city of Jos.
Reportedly Christians were going to or coming from their various church services on Sunday morning, when near St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Nasarawa, Jos, about 200 Muslim youths who had been working on a building site began molesting the Christians who were passing by. It was then revealed that some of these youths were wearing military uniforms and were armed with machetes and guns. They blocked the road and tension rose when the Christians tried to force their way along the main street.
Subsequently the Christians began to flee and fighting broke out. At least 20 people have reportedly been confirmed dead (including some Muslims who died when the Christians defended themselves). There are also reports that one other church has been attacked (details are awaited). Some 35 persons have so far been arrested; these are mainly Muslims with weapons and military uniforms. Fighting and burning of properties has now spread to other areas of the city.
Over the last 2 months, there has been concern over widespread rumours of plans to bomb the homes of Christian leaders and to kill senior members of Christian churches.
At 5pm yesterday, 17 January, there were unconfirmed reports that 2 other churches had been attacked and were burning: an ECWA (Evangelical Church of West Africa) and a COCIN (Church of Christ in Nigeria) Church.
(NB Jos was the scene of wide scale violence in November 2008 during which over one hundred people were killed and many places of worship, predominantly Christian, were destroyed.)
Tags: Christian Persecution
January 20th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
is time christians wake and stop this “show the ligth syndron”and get themselves too wepons ready.for how long will they always be taken unaware.
January 24th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
it is time nigerian christians to come together and fight agenxt muslim , let all remenber how there masager our people in 1962 .enough is enough
February 19th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Stop this nonsense of killing innocence Muslims. Follows Islam to learn how to live in peace. Muslim dose not provide weapons and emanations to attack any human. enough is enough guys be wise.
March 4th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
i wonder where the writer of this report got his information from. i am a christian and studied and lived in jos for more than 6 years. christians are the causes of the crisis. let’s b sincere and realistic for God’s sake. muslims are good and peace loving people. please let’s stop propaganda. muslims are being molested throughout the world and it is we christians that go to the media to spread false news. it’s too bad.