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Southern Kaduna crisis: survivors recount ordeal

The recent crisis that broke out in Godogodo community, a predominantly Christian community in Southern Kaduna state may have come but not gone, Living Godogodo is no longer safe for residents. Residents of the community are still counting their losses and the damage the crisis left behind. The crisis has also displaced many residents of the affected communities as many of them run for their life. Findings have shown that people are afraid to live around the affected communities.

It was gathered that Fulani herdsmen attack Godogodo community on Saturday October, 15, 2016, killing more than 40 Christians. Unfortunately, another eight people had earlier reported killed in an attack three weeks earlier, a leader in the community told newsmen.

In his account, Rev. Thomas Akut of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Good News Church in Godogodo said the assailants burned several houses and shot many Christians died during the attack.

The clergy told newsmen that he and his family miraculously escaped lynching and hid in the bush, lying on the ground over the night until Sunday morning (Oct. 16), when they made their way to Kafanchan, Kaduna State.

“We fled into the bushes, and some of us escaped to safer areas, the attackers were in the hundreds and were well-armed. Some of them exchanged gunfire with the few soldiers stationed at the post office in the town, while others burned down houses at least 22 Christians were killed and that is just the figure I saw the following morning, but the number of deaths may be higher as many people were also killed in the bushes”, 41-year-old Pastor Akut said.

Akhigbe Hope

Akhigbe Hope Udeibhulu is another lucky survivor of the attack; unfortunately, he lost his father and mother to the attacked as the assailants killed his parent Bello Udeibhulu and Selina Udeibhulu and abducted her sister Osas Udeibhulu.

Recounting his ordeal to newsmen, Akhigbe Hope Udeibhulu who has equally run for his dear life said “I lost my parents Bello Udeibhulu, Selina Udeibhulu and my sister Osas Udeibhulu was captured by Fulani Herdsmen, until now my sister is yet to be found. I have lost everything and my heart is full of pains. They burned our homes”.

Akhigbe Hope added that the attacked was politically influence, the assailant also destroying Christians’ farms, a tactic he said is aimed at displacing Christians and starving survivors to death.

“Our farms have been destroyed, crops that are now ready for harvest have all been destroyed by the herdsmen. Members of our churches cannot even go to their farms, as anyone who attempts to do so is murdered by the herdsmen. Godogodo has been destroyed and thousands of Christians displaced,” Akhigbe said.

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