Open Doors (OD) representatives in Nigeria say the atmosphere in Dogo Nahawa south of Jos remains tense two days after the slaughter of as many as 500 mostly Christian villagers on Sunday, March 7. Staff members testify that the macabre scene of mutilated bodies, many of women and children, is hard to take in as they go around comforting the bereaved and encouraging the wounded.
Security forces that have been deployed in the area stood watching yesterday as mass burial started. Many locals are accusing the government of not reacting to rumours about the impending violence in the early hours of Sunday morning.
OD’s Africa Director helps put the attack in perspective:
Did the Christians of Dogo Nahawa suffer the attack because of what Jos Christians did to Muslims in January?
We understand that what is happening in Nigeria is first and foremost a spiritual battle between darkness and light. The battle has many disguises and faces.
Some are saying the attack was revenge for the January fighting. Others say it was the result of fighting over farmland. There are also those who say it is a fight for the control of the city of Jos as capital of Plateau State. All of these may very well be part of the general motive, but it would be oversimplified to say that any one of these is the sole reason for the most recent attack.
The villagers of Dogo Nahawa had nothing to do with the January violence. Additionally a great percentage of those killed were women and children. Our coordinator explained, “One group of 65 bodies we saw, included only nine men. The rest were all women and children.”
How do we help our supporters understand this and the other attacks in the past?
I think it is very important that we as OD remind our supporters that this is a spiritual battle. And in the realities of this battle, some Christians react to the honour of God and others don’t.
I think it is also important to let our audience understand that the Nigerian Christians are not super human beings. We need to understand that those Christians in northern Nigeria face discrimination, humiliation and attacks on almost a daily basis. They have built, and rebuilt homes and churches so many times. They have gone to morgues to look for the bodies of their loved ones so often...
Is it realistic to expect of them not to snap at a certain point in time? The question is: would I, in a similar situation, defend my family and community?
Our coordinator testifies that the youth of Dogo Nahawa are livid over this attack. When a pastor encouraged them to forgive, they were extremely offended. This is not to be commended, but it has to be understood.
We are not here to deny that there are Christians who have reacted sinfully in the past or even now, or to justify such sinful reactions. We mourn the loss of life - be it the life of a Christian or a Muslim or an Animist.
What we are most certainly here for in the first place is to be a voice for the Christians. We know the kind of challenges they deal with, and we can speak up about that. We are also here to encourage and assist in whatever way possible according to the vision of OD. We are called to strengthen those that remain... also those that remain in Nigeria.
Right now our supporters have the opportunity to partner with us through prayer.
What is OD doing to help the victims of Sunday’s attack?
Our team is on the ground, visiting the bereaved and also those that have been injured and are now in hospital. A high priority for us is to respond to the immediate need for food and water.
We have been pursuing every avenue available to us to help the Church equip their members to always be able to give and answer to the hope they have, to reach out to Muslims in love and to react to their adversaries in a way that is pleasing to God. We also help ostracised Christians find others ways to earn an income.
We have come a long way in helping the Church in Nigeria, but we have touched the tip of the iceberg only. Our takes time and dedication. Despite the challenges OD is committed to invest in the Church in northern Nigeria.
