After more than 20 Christians lost their lives to terrorist attacks in two areas of Taraba State, Nigeria in August, a Catholic teacher was kidnapped from a church site, Morning Star News reported.
Suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province shot their way onto the site of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Dinya village, in Taraba State’s Gassol County, at about 10 p.m. and abducted the catechist, Gideon Tsehemba, the report said.
More than 20 Christians were killed in Gassol and Bali counties by Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists during the first two weeks of the month, an area resident reported.
The killings and kidnappings in the two counties displaced more than 10,000 people from the predominantly Christian villages, Morning Star News said.
Gunmen reportedly attacked predominantly Christian Karekuka village, Gassol County, killing 13 people, including six defenders who shot and killed six of the assailants, according to local news reports.
New target
Terrorism by ISWAP stretched into Taraba State for the first time on April 19, killing six Christians, sources said. While ISWAP has long carried out assaults in northeastern Nigeria, the Islamic extremists had reportedly not been active in Taraba until the attack.
In the Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 9 the previous year.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally written and published by Morning Star News.
