Distinguished members of the Press, and fellow citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we welcome you to this Press Conference. We thank you for joining us as we deliberate on crucial issues that concern our country. It is our hope that the government and people of Nigeria shall consider the issues we shall raise in this conference.
On 18th February 2024, Fulani herdsmen attacked Gindin Dutse in Southern Kaduna and unleashed death and sorrow on the peaceful community. By the time the attack ended twelve innocent Christians had lost their lives. Those killed were as follows:
Men – 4
Women – 3
Children – 5.
Lay Faithful Trust Foundation (LFTF) conducted relief distribution of food to Christian IDPs in Maiduguri between 4th – 7th March 2024. This project followed the clothes distribution project that was done in February at the same IDP camp.
Lately, there has been understandable nationwide outcry at the shocking welcome granted by President Tinubu of Nigeria to Hamas, an organization sadly linked with international terrorism. The worrisome Presidential and diplomatic concessions to that group have compelled progressive Nigerians to wonder if terrorism is President Tinubu’s foreign policy, and if the threats portended in such an ominous visit are intended to be the next new dish of unfolding woes in the nation, since about the middle of 2023.
Lay Faithful Trust Foundation conducted relief distribution of clothes to IDPs in Maiduguri, Borno State on 9th February 2024. The IDPs are accommodated at the State CAN Centre. There are seven other IDP camps hosting Christians in Maiduguri. The available resources could not reach the remaining seven IDP camps.
Following the dastardly Christmas Eve attacks on unarmed Christian communities in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin Lardi LGAs of Plateau state, in which 238 Christians were murdered by Islamist insurgents, Lay Faithful Trust Foundation conducted relief distribution of food to the affected brethren. The attacks reportedly took place in 30 villages and communities of the affected Local Government Areas. Reports from the IDP camp managers in Bokkos indicated that about 19,000 people were displaced because of the attacks, and they fled to the headquarters of Bokkos LG for refuge.
National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) commiserates with the government and people of Plateau state over the unprovoked and unwarranted murder of over 200 Christians in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin Lardi LGAs. The Islamist jihadists, like Hamas, chose a period of religious festivity to inflict pain and destruction on the people of God. The attacks on Christmas Eve against Christians in Plateau state are indications of malevolent hatred against adherents of the Christian faith in Nigeria.
Lay Faithful Trust Foundation (LFTF) conducted a Christmas project for Christian children who have lost their parents and families due to persecution and violence.
They live at the Christian New Converts and Orphanage Foundation in Potuki, Gombe state, where they face daily challenges of hunger, and poverty.
November 2023
Warkan-Gora and Bafae-Gida were repeatedly attacked by Fulani herdsmen and suffered loss of lives and properties. Many of the houses in the communities were burnt and destroyed leaving the people with no other option but to flee.
With the change of government in May 2023, the attacks eased off and the people started returning to their ancestral land. Unfortunately, they could neither rebuild their houses nor provide basic amenities.
Putoki, Gombe State
23rd October 2023
The combination of hyperinflation and attacks on farmers have created a disastrous food crisis for Nigeria. The group most affected are the persecuted Christians in northern Nigeria who daily are running for their lives while looking for food to eat. Without certain dwelling place, no financial power, and dispossessed of their properties, the persecuted Christians in most parts of northern Nigeria are facing food crisis.
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20-year-old Irmiya (Jeremiah) was involved in cooking gas explosion in Jalingo, Taraba state, and he was brought to Yola, Adamawa, for treatment. He sustained serious injuries which affected his two arms and his genital area. Due to lack of funds to pay for his treatment, his two hands got rotten and fell off. By the time sympathizers contacted the Representative of Lay Faithful Trust Foundation in Yola the two forearms had to be amputated. Treatment commenced immediately with funds provided by Lay Faithful Trust Foundation to stem the spread of gangrene and prevent the loss of the entire arm.
The list below is extracted from The Religion of Peace (TROP) website: https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks/attacks.aspx?Yr=2023].
In the past quarter between July 2 and Sept 27 2023 Three hundred and Fifty-eight (358) people were killed by Islamic Jihadists in 55 attacks in Nigeria. One hundred and Fifty-four others sustained various degrees of injuries, but managed to survive these attacks.
The second phase of the fertilizer empowerment project for Christian IDPs in Kaduna state took place from 17th to 21st August 2023. Phase One of the project was conducted on 15-18 June 2023. Usually, fertilizer is applied twice by the farmers during the farming season for maximum effectiveness.
The objective of the empowerment project is to assist the Christian IDPs attain some measure of economic independence for self-sustenance. From the reports that followed the projects in 2022, many of the IDPs benefitted greatly from the fertilizer projects. Regrettably, the scope of the project this year was restricted to Kaduna state when compared with the projects last year.
Mangu LGA of Plateau state was a relatively peaceful area until Fulani militia unleashed wave after wave of attacks on the Christian community. The unprovoked attacks started in May 2023 resulting in the brutal killing of unarmed men, women, and children.
According to local reports, Fulani militia orchestrated the attacks across different communities in the LGA. The killings were brutal and merciless. Over 100 people were killed in Mangu while 32,383 were reportedly displaced.
Lay Faithful Trust Foundation conducted relief distribution of clothes and medications to persecuted Christians in Warkan-Gora in July. The brethren in the community were attacked by Muslim insurgents in which 37 families suffered various degrees of injuries. 45 houses in Warkan-Gora were burnt and 8 women became widows.
