By TINA TIMOTHY

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has released a state-by-state breakdown of Christian deaths in the past 10 months of 2022 by the Jihadist terrorists which included Fulani herdsmen, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram and Ansaru and other killings perpetrated by the Nigerian security forces, comprising the military and police.

Intersociety, in a statement on Monday, November 7, 2022, in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, signed by its International Principal Officers; Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chinwe Umeche (Esquire), Chidinma Udegbunam (Esquire) and Ndidiamaka Chinaza Bernard (Esquire), stressed that while Benue and Taraba states are the worst hit from terrorist killings; Imo State recorded the highest number from Christian deaths by the Military and Police during the period under review.

“The State by State distribution of the 3,020 of the 4,020 Christian deaths in the past 10 months of 2022 or Jan to October had Benue and Taraba taking the lead as the worst hit States with 463 (from 192 in Jan-June) and 450 Christian deaths (from 250 Christian deaths in Jan-June 2022); followed by Kaduna with 395 Christian deaths (from 323 in June-June), Niger 314 (from 264 in Jan-June), Plateau 312 (from 229 in Jan-June) and Borno 240 (from 120 in Jan-June 2022).

“Other states affected in the investigative distribution of the 3,020 of the 4,020 Christian deaths are Ondo 152 (from 112 in Jan-June), Abia 85, Kebbi 85, Enugu 80, Ogun 60, Yobe 50, Delta 45, Nassarawa 40, Kogi 35, Edo 30, Bauchi 30, Ekiti/Oyo/Osun 75, FCT 30, Gombe 20, slain Pastoral Igbo-Christians in the North 20 in number and Anambra with 20 Christian deaths; totaling 3,020 Christian deaths.

“In the 3,020 Christian deaths distributed according to states, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen accounted for 2,650 while terror Fulani Bandits accounted for the remaining 350 others. Pieces of evidence abound where Boko Haram, ISWAP, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and terror Fulani Bandits jointly participate in the anti Christian butcheries-with examples being in Niger, Taraba and Birnin Gwari part of Kaduna State; Nassarawa, Kogi and FCT. Attacks and killings in Benue and Plateau States as well as Southeast and South-South are mostly carried out by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and their foreign allies.”

“Apart from the 3,020 of the 4,020 Christian deaths distributed according to States above, there are also remaining 1,000 others, out of which 550 were perpetrated by the deployed military and police personnel in the Southeast and the South-South or Old Eastern Nigeria. The 231 of the remaining 1,000 Christian deaths represent 10 per cent of the 2,315 abducted Christians presumed to have died in captivity; having been abducted and disappeared without traces ten months after their abduction by terror Jihadists. The remaining 210 Christian deaths represent those killed outside Eastern Nigeria in deliberate military airstrikes and those killed at refugee camps in neighboring countries by Boko Haram or ISWAP as well as others representing “dark figures of crimes” or killings never traced or tracked by media or research or investigative institutions or Government institutions. The State by State breakdown of the 550 military and police generated Christian deaths indicate that Imo State recorded the highest number with at least 250 unarmed Christian deaths, followed by Anambra with no fewer than 120 unarmed Christian deaths, Abia at least 80 unarmed Christian deaths, Ebonyi 60 (including killings perpetrated by the Nigerian Army-allied Ebubeagu Government militias), Enugu 50 and Rivers 40 deaths. Pockets of such killings also took place in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States within the period under review,” Intersociety stated.

The group also lamented that “ferocious, widespread and unchecked jihadist attacks since January 2022” has put Christians in Taraba and Niger states on the run.

The statement continued: “It has been investigated and found by Intersociety that Taraba State had come under ferocious, widespread and unchecked jihadist attacks since January 2022, resulting in the killing of no fewer than 450 Christians. Between Jan and July, over 300 Christians were slaughtered by the combined forces of ISWAP, terror Bandits and Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen who launched fiercest attacks in over 40 predominant Christian villages, killing hundreds and displacing over 120,000 others. This is to the extent that over 30 Christians were slaughtered between July 5 and 12 and between June and July 2022, over 60 Christians were slaughtered. The predominant Christian communities worst affected are those under Takum/Donga/Ussa/Yangtu Federal Constituency. This is according to Hon Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, a Member Representing the area in the House of Representatives.The Christian parts of Niger State including Shiroro, Munya and Rafi, Mariga and Lapai Local Government Areas have also come under widespread Jihadist attacks with forceful conversion to Islam being the order of the day.

“This is in addition to coordinated violence against Christian settlements, their farmlands and sacred places of worship. Moderate Muslims in Niger State are also not spared and are being targeted for Jihadist attack.”

Intersociety further emphasized that 2,315 Christians in Kaduna, Borno, Niger, Plateau, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Benue, Kebbi, Taraba, Adamawa, Kogi, FCT, Anambra and others were abducted in the past ten months of 2022. The group also identified “flashpoints or dead zones for indigenous Igbo Christians” in the Eastern part of the country as Umunneochi and Isuikwuato in Abia State, Okigwe in Imo State and Isi-Uzo and Igbo-Eze/Igbo-Etiti in Enugu State, where abductions and killings were perpetrated “by Nigerian security forces protected Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen.”

According to the statement, “Kaduna State was investigated and found to be the worst hit with highest number of abducted Christians with not less than 600. According to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), “over 100 Christians were abducted by terror Jihadist Fulani Bandits and Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and others in Sept 2022 alone.” The State also accounted for 300 abducted Christians in July-October 2022. Other affected States are Borno 200, Niger 150, Plateau 150, Abia (Umunneochi and Isiukwuato) 140, Enugu (Isi-Uzo, Uzo Uwani, Igbo Eze, etc) 100, Imo 80, Benue 60, Kebbi 50,Taraba, 50, Adamawa 40,Kogi 40, FCT 35, Anambra 20 and others 600; totaling 2,315 abducted Christians in the past ten months of 2022 or January to Oct.

“The four major flashpoints or dead zones for indigenous Igbo Christians especially travelers in the Southeast have been investigated and found to be Umunneochi and Isuikwuato in Abia State, Okigwe in Imo State and Isi-Uzo and Igbo-Eze/Igbo-Etiti in Enugu State. These five Igbo communal areas are under siege by Nigerian security forces protected Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and their regionally assembled allies. This is to the extent that more than 400 defenseless Igbo Christians were abducted in the past ten months of 2022. Also no fewer than 200 lives have been lost to the Jihadists in the areas within the period under review. The Ebubeagu Government militias camouflaged as “anti violent Herdsmen outfit” by the Gov of Ebonyi State as ‘Chairman of the Southeast Govs Forum” are nothing but “a complementing killer militia” aiding and escalating the atrocities of the Jihadists against members of the defenseless Igbo-Christian population.”