Nigeria: Terror attacks force denomination to close 70 churches
from Christian Today:
Terrorist attacks have forced a denomination to close 70 churches in central Nigeria’s Plateau state, while in the country’s northwest, Christians are celebrating the release of a kidnapped priest.
The Rev. Amos Mohzo, president of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that attacks by Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists have forced 70 congregations in Plateau state’s Mangu and Bokkos counties to stop services in the past two years.
Previous Christmas attacks last December directly affected COCIN congregations, he said.
“Our members were killed, people were killed, people lost their houses, many [were] traumatized and we couldn’t do anything,” Pastor Mohzo said. “We were stranded, but we had to face the challenge, and Christmas was celebrated by displaced Christians in Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) camps in spite of the tragedy.”
In the Mangu area, attacks forced at least 40 COCIN congregations to close, he said.
“Most of these members of our church were displaced, and many of them are living in camps outside their communities,” Mohzo said. “Most of these Christians have been moving here and there trying to survive or find succor.”
In the Bokkos area, the denomination lost “about 30” congregations, he said.
“All our worship church buildings in these communities were burned down by the terrorists,” Mohzo added. “Internally Displaced Christians from these communities are still living in camps outside their communities. And even now, most of them who are farmers are unable to go to their farms.”
In some cases, Christians who have dared to return to their farms have formed communal groups for a greater sense of security, he said.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
