17 Nigerian Christians Killed in Attacks Hours After Trump Called Out Religious Persecution
At least 17 Christians were killed in Nigeria hours after President Donald Trump designated the nation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for ongoing attacks by radical Islamists, with local media reporting “fresh attacks by gunmen across communities in Plateau and Kaduna states.”
A Friday evening attack in Kaduna claimed the lives of seven people and injured one more, with Nigerian outlet Punch reporting that the assailants “invaded” the Damakasuwa community in Chawai Chiefdom around 8:00 pm and began “shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.”
The chief of Chawai, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, told the newspaper that five of the fatalities died at the scene while the other two later succumbed to their injuries.
“The incident heightened tension in the area, but normalcy has since been restored due to the presence of military personnel in the community,” the chief said. “We have urged our people to remain calm and allow the security agencies to carry out their duties diligently to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended.”
In Plateau State, 10 more people were reportedly killed in separate attacks on Friday and Saturday, Punch reported. (Read more from “17 Nigerian Christians Killed in Attacks Hours After Trump Called Out Religious Persecution” HERE)
