‘Unfortunate carnage’ — Pastor laments killing of 50 church members in Plateau attacks

Keoleh Saleh, president of the Baptist Conference in Plateau, says 50 members of the church, including a pastor, were killed in recent attacks in Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs of the state.

In an interview with NAN on Sunday, Saleh said over 500 members, including women and children, were also displaced.

He said the church has, in the past week, spent over N3 million to cater to the needs of the displaced persons taking refuge in various local churches.

“This unfortunate carnage affected the Baptist Church seriously. In Kantoma where we have a big church, we lost over 31 members, including a moderator,” Saleh said.

“Twenty-three women were made widows on account of the attacks. We lost nine members in Jwak Maitumbi and a member in Kombili.

“Most of our members displaced in over 10 local churches are taking refuge in different places.

“We have located four centres in Jos metropolis where a family is hosting between 10 to 20 people, and we have over 200 displaced persons in Jos.

“We have 50 in Barkin Ladi, over 200 in Salama Baptist Church in Mangu and 78 others that include 44 little children at Bwarak, Pankshin.

“Within one week, we have spent about N2m to get relief materials, but this is not enough, and our Baptist partners assisted us with N1m to make it N3m. But it is still not enough. We provided foodstuffs, clothing, shoes, mats, blankets and other items.”

Israel Akanji, the national president of the Nigeria Baptist Convention, who visited the displaced members, prayed over them and ordered financial assistance for the victims.

He called on government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward bringing relief to the victims and finding a lasting solution to the killings in the state and nation at large.

“This is a farming season, and the government should think of returning these people to go to their farms,” Akanji said.

“Whatever we are doing now will not be forever, government should wake up to its responsibility and ensure a safe place for these people to return to their farms.”

Plateau has been experiencing spates of attacks which have left many dead and displaced.

In April, gunmen attacked at least four communities in Mangu and Bokkos LGAs of the state, killing several residents.

Also on May 17, TheCable reported that over 30 persons were killed in an attack by gunmen in Bwoi, Mangu LGA.