The Christian community in Gwoza, the Borno town that Boko Haram recently declared an Islamic caliphate, says its men are being beheaded by the insurgents while its women are forced into unwanted marriages.
According to Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasogie, the social communications director of the catholic diocese of Maiduguri, the sect may have embarked on a general killing spree, but Christians have been at the receiving end
The insurgents have reportedly promulgated their own laws, beheading men who refuse conversion to Islam and marrying off their wives to their members.
“It is quite clear that terrorism has no friend, but it is abundantly clear that the Christians are worst hit,” Obasogie said.
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“The whole town and the Parish rectory have been occupied by the terrorists, so many structures and items have been vandalised. Dozens have been killed and a lot of church structures have been burnt down. Christians in the town are really in a terrible situation, a moment of great persecution.
“Christian men were caught and beheaded, the women were forced to become Muslims and were taken as wives to the terrorists.”
Narrating the severe condition that people have been experiencing in the region, Obasogie maintained that the actual situation has gone out of control.
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“It might surprise you to know that no one knows the state of affairs in this terrorist zone. The houses of Christians that have fled are now occupied by the ‘haramists’. Their cars are used by the terrorists,” he said, adding that some Boko Haram sympathisers around the town showed the terrorists Christian homes, and Christians hiding were identified and killed.
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