Over 70 churches have been forced to shut down in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, following incessant terrorist attacks in the state.
President of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Rev. Amos Mohzo, disclosed this to the Morning Star News.
Mohzo said the affected areas are Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas, where church services have not been held in the past two years.
He said the Christmas Eve attacks in the areas directly affected COCIN congregations.
“Our members were killed, people were killed, people lost their houses, many (were) traumatized, and we couldn’t do anything,” he said. “We were stranded, but we had to face the challenge, and Christmas was celebrated by displaced Christians in Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) camps in spite of the tragedy.”
Mohzo said no fewer than 40 COCIN churches congregations closed down in Mangu alone, while about 30 others are closed in Bokkos.
He said, “Most of these members of our church were displaced, and many of them are living in camps outside their communities. Most of these Christians have been moving here and there trying to survive or find succour.”
He added, “All our worship church buildings in these communities were burnt down by the terrorists. Internally Displaced Christians from these communities are still living in camps outside their communities. And even now, most of them who are farmers are unable to go to their farms.”
Security
According to the clergyman, some Christians who have returned to their farms have formed communal groups to provide security.
Mohzo said, “Notwithstanding, our displaced church members still find it difficult to go to their farms for productive activities because of ceaseless attacks against them by armed terrorists, herdsmen and bandits.
“With these developments, we have been making efforts to see that our church members who survived these attacks and are living in camps outside their communities are relocated back to their communities. But then, we have to rebuild not just worship buildings but also their burnt houses.”
North East
Mohzo said COCIN evangelistic outreaches in the North East of Nigeria have been hindered by the activities of the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“I am from the North East of Nigeria, Gwoza Local Government Area, precisely from Limankara town, and my village is Ngoshe Sama, which is located on the hills,” he said.
“Boko Haram took over the village years back, and they are still there. So, these hills occupied by Boko Haram terrorists overlook Limankara and Gwoza towns.
These terrorists come down from the hills to attack our communities and then retreat into the hills.”
Mohzo recalled that on June 29, Gwoza was attacked during which both Christians and Muslims were maimed.
Ransom
He lamented that the church has not been able to pay the ransom demanded by the terrorists for the release of one of its pastors, Paul Musa, because of the kidnappings going on.
Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped Rev. Musa and his wife in March 2023.
“We, as a church, are handicapped because it is impossible to raise money at all times to pay ransom to terrorists to secure the release of pastors being held captive. And this is because, almost in all parts of northern Nigeria, our church members and pastors are being kidnapped by terrorists. So, where can we raise large sums of money to get them out from their captors?”
In its 2024 World Watch List, Open Doors, a Christian watchdog group, ranked Nigeria 6th among 50 nations where practising Christianity is difficult.
The group said Nigeria remained the deadliest place on earth to follow Jesus Christ, noting that a total of 4,118 people were killed for their faith between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023.
It also said 3,300 Christians were kidnapped during the period in the country, adding that the figure is more than any other in the world.