Morning Star News | January 20, 2020
Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed two young Christian women in southern Kaduna state, Nigeria, on Friday (Jan. 17), sources said.
The herdsmen on motorbikes rode into Gora-Gan village in Zango Kataf County at about 5 p.m. shooting villagers on sight, according to a local resident. Luka Biniyat, spokesman for the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), confirmed the killing of Briget Philip, 18, and Priscilla David, 19.
“Both girls, who were secondary school pupils, worshiped at the Catholic parish of Gora-Gan,” Biniyat told Morning Star News.
Wounded in the attack on the predominantly Christian community were 18-year-old Henry Jonathan, 19-year-old Benjamin Peter and Goodluck Andawus, 12, he said.
The herdsmen attacked when people had flocked to the village square where evangelism and social activities are held.
“As the people fled into nearby bushes to take cover, the attackers retreated and left,” area resident Solomon John told Morning Star New by text message. “We are sad about these attacks on our people, which seem to be unending.”
County Council Chairman Elias Manza confirmed to the attack to journalists on Saturday (Jan. 18).
“The injured are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, but the good news is that normalcy has been restored to the area,” Manza said.
Kidnapped Aid Workers Released
Two days earlier in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, five aid workers kidnapped by the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) were freed.
The aid workers had been kidnapped by ISWAP, which broke away from Boko Haram in 2016, on Dec. 22 along the Monguno-Maiduguri highway in Borno state as the workers were visiting displaced persons camps to provide medical and food items.
Among the freed aid workers was Jennifer Samuel Ukumbong, whose family resides in Jos. Jummai Markus, a neighbor of the family, told Morning Star News that she called her home on Thursday (Jan. 16) saying she had been released.
“Ever since Jennifer was kidnapped by Boko Haram [formerly allied with ISWAP], her family has been holding prayer vigils and fasting for her release,” Markus said. “In fact, her mother, who’s a widow, was in the church praying for her daughter’s freedom when the news about her rescued filtered in.”