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.
Population
