Seventeen unarmed Christians were recently killed by Muslim militants in the Ungwan Wakili community, located in Nigeria’s Kaduna State’s Zangon Kataf LGA. This region has been a hotbed of violence for years, with militants frequently attacking Christian communities. Religious animosity seems to be a significant motivating factor behind the violence, as Christian communities have been grossly disproportionately targeted.
The militants used sophisticated weapons during the most recent attack, which occurred at night. Fourteen lifeless victims were seen in photos reviewed by a local ICC staffer, and three more died from their wounds in the hospital. Although local government officials have promised to investigate the incident, they have accused the military of allowing the attack despite the presence of military checkpoints nearby. Policing in Nigeria is the responsibility of federal rather than local authorities. In recent months, militants have also destroyed crops and attacked Christians in southern Kaduna.
The governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, has a history of permitting attacks on Christian communities and punishing Christians who protest the area’s security situation. Since taking office in May 2015, El-Rufai has frequently placed Christian communities under strict lockdowns, which have left villagers trapped in their homes, unable to organize early warning systems, and vulnerable to militant attacks. Despite international condemnation of these measures, El-Rufai continues to use them. In 2020, he locked down a Christian-majority agricultural area for more than two months during planting season, leading to the deaths of over 100 Christian villagers.
The attack has been condemned by human rights organizations and religious leaders, who have called on the Nigerian government to take action to protect vulnerable communities in the region. Southern Kaduna has been a hotspot of inter-communal violence in recent years, with clashes between Christian and Muslim communities leaving hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
The international community has also expressed concern over the situation in Nigeria, with some calling for sanctions against the government and military for their failure to address the ongoing violence. Despite the challenges, however, there are also many grassroots efforts underway to promote peace and reconciliation in the region, and to support those affected by the conflict.
