By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
ABUJA (Worthy News) - Nigeria’s president has ordered a “manhunt” for suspected Islamic fighters who killed up to 160 Christians on Christmas Eve in the nation’s central Plateau state, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Bola Tinubu told Nigerians in a statement that “these envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice.”
The hours-long deadly attacks in 15 mainly Christian villages of three government areas in Plateau displaced some 10,000 people, several sources said.
“It’s believed that all of them are Christians,” well-informed evangelist and farmer Paul Jongas told Worthy News.
Witnesses said suspected Islamic attackers were nomadic herders using firearms and machetes on their victims.
"As I am talking to you, in Mangu local governorate alone, we buried 15 people. As of this morning, in Bokkos, we are counting not less than 100 corpses. I am yet to take stock of (the deaths in) Barkin Ladi," Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang said.
TERRIFYING CHRISTIANS
The governor added: “It has been a very terrifying Christmas for us here in Plateau.”
Christians said the dead included church leaders, including Reverend Solomon Gushe of Baptist Church in Dares village.
It was the worst known shingle atrocity against Christians in recent weeks, though thousands of believers are known to have been killed.
More than 50,000 people are believed to have been murdered in Nigeria for being Christian over the past 14 years, advocacy groups say.
It wasn’t immediately clear what prompted the killings, but Christians suggest the attacks are more than a dispute over land and come amid mounting Islamic pressure on non-Muslims in several areas of the African country.