Pastor Abel Damina has spoken out, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by Christians in Northern Nigeria. He asserts that the attacks are not mere isolated incidents but a sustained campaign, and as a victim himself, he shares personal and harrowing accounts that paint a grim picture. This is not just about headlines; it’s about survival and the struggle for peace.
- Pastor Abel Damina reveals he is a direct victim of attacks targeting Christians in Northern Nigeria.
- He refutes claims that the violence is solely due to farmer-herder clashes or general terrorism.
- Damina recounts personal experiences of church burnings and narrowly escaping death, dating back to the 1980s.
- He highlights specific historical incidents, including the Metacine sect’s violence and the aftermath of the Miss World riots.
- The pastor details a terrifying ordeal in Kaduna where he and others hid from attackers.
- He emphasizes the role of extremist ideologies in fueling such violence against Christians.
- Damina also points to the displacement of communities and the presence of IDP camps as evidence of ongoing crises.
- He calls for urgent government action to protect lives and properties and allow displaced people to return home.
A Pastor’s Personal Testimony: ‘I Was There!’
In a world where narratives can be twisted and downplayed, Pastor Abel Damina steps forward, not just as an observer but as a survivor. He has publicly declared his status as a victim of the numerous attacks that have targeted Christians in the northern part of Nigeria. Speaking passionately, he aims to counter the efforts by some to minimize the gravity of what he and many others have endured. These incidents, some have controversially termed ‘Christian Genocide’, are far from fiction for Damina and countless others.
Challenging Official Narratives
The discourse surrounding the violence in Nigeria is often complex. While some government officials have pushed back against the ‘Christian genocide’ narrative, suggesting the nation is battling widespread terrorism affecting all religious groups, or attributing the conflict to scarce resources leading to farmer-herder clashes, Damina insists this simplifies a much deeper, religiously-motivated issue. He argues that the persecution of Christians in the North has a long history, predating the current farmer-herder conflicts and even widespread banditry.
Echoes from the Past: Escapes in the 80s
Damina’s memories take us back to his childhood in Northern Nigeria. He recounts a terrifying morning in 1986/87 when his father’s Assemblies of God church and their adjacent home in Samaru, Zaria, were set ablaze. Without any provocation, attackers descended, dousing the buildings in petrol and igniting flames. He and his family narrowly escaped, finding refuge in a military barracks. It took considerable time and effort to rebuild and restart their lives. This wasn’t an isolated event; he also mentions the violence perpetrated by the ‘Metacine’ sect, a group known in the 80s for targeting and killing Christians, long before the farmer-herder issue became prominent.
Kaduna Under Siege: A Night of Terror
Fast forward to more recent times, Damina shares a chilling account from Kaduna. While visiting to preach, he found himself trapped when the city erupted in chaos. Churches were being burned, and people were being attacked. He and others sought refuge in a hotel, but even there, safety was not guaranteed as attackers reportedly went from hotel to hotel, targeting those not chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’. Tragically, a pastor friend, Reverend NorthCourt Andrew, was killed while trying to escape. His identity was only discovered later when a wooden cross marked his hastily buried grave.
The Ideological Fuel for Violence
Pastor Damina points to extremist indoctrination as a key driver of these attacks. He explains that some individuals believe killing non-Muslims, or ‘infidels’, guarantees them a place in paradise. This belief, he suggests, fuels violence with little provocation. He mentions the chaos during the Reinhard Bonnke crusade in Kano, where people were attacked simply for the propagation of the Christian gospel.
Evidence on the Ground: IDP Camps and Lost Villages
Beyond personal testimonies, Damina highlights the tangible evidence of the ongoing crisis. He questions the existence of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in a secular nation like Nigeria, especially when there have been no major natural disasters like earthquakes. These camps, he argues, are filled because communities have been displaced by bandits, Islamic extremists, and groups like Boko Haram, particularly in states like Borno, Plateau, Benue, and Southern Kaduna. Entire villages have been abandoned as residents flee for their lives.
A Call for Action and a Plea for Peace
Damina lauds international figures like former US President Donald Trump for lending their voice to the plight of Christians in Nigeria. He believes that such global attention is crucial when the issue is often ‘put under the carpet’ domestically. He implores the Nigerian government to take swift and decisive action to protect its citizens. The current situation, he warns, is unsustainable and could lead to an unknown future.
| Year/Period | Location | Nature of Attack | Victims |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986/87 | Samaru, Zaria | Church and house burning | Pastor’s family, narrowly escaped |
| 1980s | Northern Nigeria | Targeted killings by Metacine sect | Christians |
| 2000 | Kaduna | Mass killings | Over 200 people |
| November 2002 | Kaduna | Retaliatory killings (linked to Miss World protests) | Over 200 people |
| Recent Years | Kaduna | City-wide unrest, church burnings, targeted killings | Pastors (incl. Rev. NorthCourt Andrew), general public |
| Ongoing | Borno, Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna | Village takeovers, displacement by bandits/extremists | Entire communities |
The pastor’s testimony is a powerful reminder that the fight for religious freedom and security in Nigeria is ongoing. He expresses hope that the menace will eventually end, allowing Nigerians to live in peace and return to their homes and livelihoods.