Islamic militants kill 13 Christians, wound three, kidnap four seminary students

Islamic militants have carried out yet another attack on a predominantly Christian village in Nigeria, killing up to 13 Christians and leaving another three wounded.

The assault was carried out on Wednesday evening by about 20 armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen.

“They were shooting with guns in all directions, forcing the villagers to scamper into surrounding bushes,” an eyewitness told Morning Star News in a text message.

“Corpses of those killed have been evacuated by soldiers and police to mortuary of Mangu Cottage Hospital; and all victims are members of [Church of Christ in Nations] COCIN,” he added.

Just hours after the attack, “armed bandits” kidnapped four students from a Christian seminary outside Kaduna city, capital of Kaduna state.

Rev. Joel Usman, registrar of the institution said, “The Good Shepherd Major Seminary was attacked by armed bandits yesterday, Jan. 8, between 10:30-11pm. After a headcount of students with security agents, four seminarians have been declared missing.”

Usman has urged believers to pray for the safe return of the students.

The attacks come after the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust reported that more than 1,000 Christians in Nigeria were slaughtered by Islamic militants last year and more than 6,000 believers were killed in the region in the last four years.

Open Doors reported Nigeria as one of the most violent countries for Christians in the world, accounting for 90% of Christian deaths in the 2019 World Watch List reporting period.