(Gana-Ropp, Nigeria) Fresh Outbreak of Religious Violence

www.persecution.org ^ | January 13, 2005 | CompassDirect.org

[miltonim]

(Compass) - Fresh violence broke out in the central Nigerian state of Plateau on December 29, 2004, when Muslim militants attacked the village of Gana-Ropp, killing Christian community leader Davou Bulle and critically injuring his wife and son.

Assailants shot Bulle in the chest as he and his family were returning home from their farm.

The attack came just weeks after the federal government lifted a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state between May and November 2004.

Police later announced the arrest of eight suspects in the attack.

Plateau state Police Commissioner Joseph Apapa told journalists in Jos that the suspects, all Muslims, would be charged following the completion of investigations.

Three years of religious violence in Plateau, beginning in September 2001, has left more than 10,000 people dead, the majority of them Christians.

[miltonim]

Muhammad's Koran-inspired persecution of Christians, Jews and all non-Muslims continues...

[underlying]

Christian Leader in Nigeria Killed in Ambush

Funeral for Davou Bulle Mary Bulle following the attack Some of the bullets removed from the Bulle family Just weeks after the Nigerian government lifted a six-month state of emergency in the central Nigerian Plateau state, Muslim militants ambushed a Christian leader and his family in the village of Ganna Ropp on December 29.  Davou Bulle died and his wife and son were injured. Following the killing, a VOM contact visited the family to ascertain what happened.  According to his sister, Davou had been facing on-going harassment from a Muslim man, Alhaji Gambo, who owned a neighbouring farm.  As Davou and his family were returning home after a day's work on their farm, Gambo and his sons ambushed them.  They first shot the tires of the van and then began to shoot at the Bulle family, killing Davou and injuring his wife, Mary, and son, Gyan.  Mary lost one eye and, at last report, remained in hospital in Jos.  Gyan attempted to protect his father and was shot fourteen times.  Gyan miraculously is recovering in hospital.  Several arrests have been made, including Alhaji Gambo and two of his sons.  Pray for the physical recovery of Mary and Gyan.  Pray for peace and inner healing for family and friends grieving their loss.  Pray that religious violence will not increase in Plateau state and that Christians will not retaliate for this attack.  In May 2004, Christian militias in Plateau state retaliated for attacks by Muslims, resulting in 300 deaths.  A six-month state of emergency was declared to quell the violence. For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in Nigeria, click here.