Massacres mar Christmas celebrations in Nigeria
A series of attacks on Christian communities in December, including on Christmas day, left dozens dead, according to recent reports from local Church sources to Aid to the Church in Need.
Dozens of Christians were killed in attacks in and around Christmas time in Nigeria, especially in Benue State. News of these attacks only recently came to the attention of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), after the foundation received reports from local Church partners, highlighting the lack of coverage of such attacks in Nigeria
According to the Diocese of Gboko, which covers part of Benue State, the deadliest of these attacks occurred on Christmas Day in Anwase, and claimed at least 47 lives, including adults and children.
The most recent attack caused at least 6,800 new IDPs, for a total of 14,633 in the region. The diocese has been helping these people to survive, and reached out to ACN, which has offered emergency help.
Other attacks took place in different parts of Nigeria during the Christmas period, including in the Diocese of Makurdi, also located in Benue State, and in Plateau State which is also part of the Middle Belt.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has repeatedly called on the Government to improve security conditions and act more decisively to counter terrorist and intercommunal attacks, but crime continues to be rampant in the country.
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