Misery unfolds after the massacre in the Nigerian church 

Panic and horror followed after gunmen attacked a catholic church in southwest Nigeria on Sunday, killing at least 50 people. 

Survivors of the attack lay in a local hospital suffering from pain and misery. According to the hospital records, 50 people including women and children were killed during the attack. The attack happened when people were celebrating the Christian holiday of Pentecost. 

Alex Michael who is a survivor mentioned that they entered and started fairing everywhere. He got shot in the leg while he tried to save his children. He narrated this story sitting on a hospital bed. He was surrounded by other survivors, who were moaning from pain and their clothes were stained in the blood. 

Dr. Samuel Aluko, who is a registrar informed that 27 adult victims were receiving treatment in his department and some are facing life-threatening situations. Dr. Ahmed a, medical director said 13 children have been hospitalized so far and 2 of them were declared dead on arrival. 

Our locality comes under Ondo state which is a part of Southwest Nigeria, this area doesn’t witness a lot of violence in comparison to rest of the Nigeria. There has been no statement from authorities regarding the identity and motives of the attackers.  

“It was beyond what I ever imagined. A lot of bodies right there in the church, blood-soaked bodies,” the catholic bishop of the diocese of Ondo, Jude Ayodiji Arogundade told AIT television channel. 

Pope Francis and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari also conveyed their condolences. Ondo state governor directed the authorities that flags in the state should be flown at half-mast for seven days.  

Many shops remained closed. Security forced secured the perimeter and helicopters were also seen roaming over the area. Southwest Nigeria is home to the ethnic group Yoruba who are both Muslims and Christians. Although they have been living peacefully. 

As per some residents, the church massacre was carried out by Hausa Fulani ethnic group, who are predominantly Muslims and live mostly in northern Nigeria. 

However, there have been an increasing number of violent incidents in recent years between Fulani herdsmen and other ethnic groups over the issue of seeking land for cattle grazing. There have been environmental reasons as well as man-made reasons for this new development. Population growth and increasing aridity have driven them further in the south. 

History of communal conflict in Nigeria: 

Communal conflicts in Nigeria can be largely divided into two categories.  

Ethno-religious conflict:

It is attributed to the cultural, ethnic, or religious divide. Christian and Muslim violence can be termed a communal conflict. 

Herder Farmers conflict:

It involves disputes over land or cattle between different herder groups. In particular herders like Fulani and Hausa and farmer groups like Adara, Berom, Tiv, and Tarok involve in conflicts with each other. 

Nigerian middle belt areas of Benue, Taraba, and Plateau are the most impacted.  

Causes:

Climate change is playing one of the major roles in the migration of herders. African countries have been seriously getting affected by climate change. Desertification, landslides, droughts, pollution, sand storms, and diseases have been affecting the herder groups. 

Communal tensions also flare from time to time with petty comments being made to other groups.  

Future of Nigeria:  

Nigeria is a very resourceful country with one of the fastest-growing populations with a flourishing IT Sector. Ghana and Nigeria, these two west coast countries have shown what Africa can achieve. 

The conflict between different communities is not a new phenomenon in human civilization. A lot of countries around the world have been functioning effectively even after having a very diverse population.

India contains extraordinary diversity still it has managed to minimize the conflict between the groups and set itself on the path of growth and development.  

The time has come for Nigeria to rise faster and lead the African continent into a better era where Africans will have the opportunity to learn and live peacefully which they never had in recent history. 

Edited By: Aaradhna Singh

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