The Plateau State Baptist Conference on Saturday urged the state government, headed by Caleb Mutfwang, and the federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to address the state’s ongoing attacks and deaths.
Over 62 members of the Plateau Baptist Conference, including pastors and their children, were killed during various attacks that took place in several communities in the Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state within the last eight months, according to Rev. Koeleh Saleh, the president of the church. The conference concluded on Saturday in Jos.
During the gathering that featured a number of dignitaries, such as the state governor Mutfwang, Saleh narrated the story of the eight months of attacks on Baptist churches and the murder of their congregants. It was reported that on May 15 and 16, 2023, thirty-three members of his church were slaughtered in Mangu LGA of the Plateau alone. Eight other members of the church passed away soon after they were displaced due to disease and poverty.
He added that on June 15, 2023, there was another attack on the Christian community of Hirpia in Bokkos LGA, which resulted in the deaths of five more churchgoers, including the spouse and two kids of Rev. Emmanuel Makama, the local pastor of the Nasara Baptist church.
In addition to a number of fatalities and injuries, he said that the assaults’ devastation and economic disruption were monumental.
He observed that the majority of the impacted communities that the inhabitants had abandoned due to the attacks had stayed that way up to this point, and that the invaders had been able to graze freely in the communities without facing any opposition. He called this scenario unfair to the people.
In his words, he said:
“The Baptist church in some of these affected communities had more than a fair share of the effect of those dastardly unprovoked assaults. In Mangu LGA, we lost 33 members to attacks on May 15, 2023 besides eight persons who died after their displacement on account of hardship and illness.
“Among the slain was the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Rev.Mangmos Tangshak, who was also the Moderator of Albarka Baptist Association and one of his church deacons.
“Besides the destruction and looting of member houses, the Baptist churches that were destroyed during this attack included Alheri Baptist Church, Jwak-Maitumbi, Alheri Baptist church, Kwaghaskipanglang, Godiya Baptist church, Changal and Shiloh Baptist church, Kombili.
“This was followed by another attack on Sabongari on July 7 2023. The attack led to the desertion of the community and then the Christmas Eve attacks on 15 communities in Bokkos LGA on December 24, 2023. The Baptist churches affected include Nasara Baptist church where 11 persons were killed among whom was Pastor Philemon Gushe. Members’ houses including the pastorium were burnt down and the church auditorium was vandalised.
“In Chiran village where over 40 persons were slaughtered in cold blood, we lost five members of Kauna Baptist church. The church pastor, Rev. Jonah Joseph, narrowly escaped with his four-year-old son who was macheted on the head but miraculously survived. While we were still nursing the wounds of the Christmas Eve attacks, the murderous militia invaded Mangu town in January 2024 killed several people and set churches ablaze.
“So, It has been indeed a very turbulent year for us, yet in fulfilment of the word of God, the gate of Hades could not prevail over the church and so, we are assembled here today for the 47th annual conference.
“In all, we lost over 62 of our church members in various attacks by murderous militia in Mangu and Bokkos communities within the past eight months alone. Indeed, our country Nigeria, has been through hard times.”
cc: Punch Ng
