Christian Communities Attacked and Killed in Nigeria

More than a dozen Christians have been killed and seven kidnapped after a militant Islamic sect raided towns in Borno State in the north of Nigeria. Reports have shown that members of Al Sunna Wal Jamma, also known as the Taliban, carried out raids on Bama and Gwoza last week.

In January the same group were reported to have launched similar raids on town and villages in the neighbouring Yobe State. However, at that time they were defeated by the Federal armed forces and those who were not captured escaped across the border.

Police stations were recently attacked also, and up to sixty members of the violent sect attacked police stations in Bama and Gwoza and killed four police officers including the area commander.

Following this attack, the group then went on to attack Christian communities, killing, raping and burning down homes. Police have confirmed that at least fourteen victims have been murdered and that more may still yet be found. The search for missing Christians is still ongoing for many of those thought to have been kidnapped.

Elsewhere in Nigeria, in the northern city of Kano, a teacher has gone into hiding for deeply offending Muslims in the area. The teacher told off a teacher for not concentrating and threw the book she was reading on the ground. However, the book turned out to be part of the Koran, and this reaction provoked a livid response from students.

A representative from a nearby Mosque asked Muslims to remain calm after a highly agitated crowd gathered outside the school. At this time, all the school teachers fled the school in fear of a similar incident which occurred in Kano earlier this year. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported at that time that thousands of non-Muslims were killed.