Exclusive to Njenje Media News
Njenje Media News has obtained an exclusive report from the Gwoza Christian Community Association (GCCA) detailing what they are calling an “unspoken genocide” targeting Christians in Gwoza, Borno State, Nigeria. The GCCA’s report paints a grim picture of widespread destruction, displacement, and a systematic erosion of Christian heritage in the region.
The report details the devastating impact of the insurgency, stating that pre-insurgency Gwoza boasted over 176 church buildings. Today, a mere fraction remains, with 148 churches reduced to ruins and entire Christian neighborhoods razed to the ground. The GCCA provides specific examples of the devastation:
• Gava-West: 74 towns and villages were attacked, resulting in the displacement of 36,946 families, the destruction of 99 churches, and the tragic deaths of 292 individuals in September 2013 alone.
• Attagara: 13 churches were destroyed, 1,738 families were displaced, and 140 Christians were killed on June 3, 2014.
• August 9, 2014: A further escalation of violence saw the destruction of 2,203 Christian homes, 28 churches, and the loss of 102 Christian lives, including three pastors, in Gwoza town, Kamba, and Ghraza.
The GCCA further alleges a discriminatory approach to reconstruction efforts. While numerous Muslim homes have been rebuilt and restored, Christian homes have been largely ignored. They cite the replacement of a church at Gwoza General Hospital – a site formerly shared peacefully by both Christians and Muslims – with a solar farm after damage from Boko Haram in 2014, as a stark illustration of this perceived bias.
Beyond physical destruction, the GCCA highlights concerns over the suppression of Christian identity and religious freedom. They claim Christian Religious Knowledge is absent from the curriculum in local government schools, and that Christian communities are routinely denied land for places of worship, while mosques are freely constructed. The report also alleges the political marginalization of Christians, who despite representing a significant portion of the population, are underrepresented in political office.
The GCCA estimates that approximately 107,000 Gwoza Christians are currently displaced, scattered across 27 IDP camps throughout Nigeria and in the Minawao refugee camp in neighboring Cameroon. An additional 50,000 are reportedly living with relatives in various Nigerian towns and cities. Many have endured over a decade in displacement, receiving little to no government assistance and facing bleak prospects for return.
In light of these dire circumstances, the GCCA is urgently calling for:
• The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to take a more proactive stance in defending its constituents.
• The Nigerian government to uphold its constitutional duty to protect all citizens, regardless of their faith, conduct impartial investigations into the alleged atrocities, and ensure equitable reconstruction and restoration of Christian communities.
• The international community to provide much-needed humanitarian aid and exert diplomatic pressure to ensure accountability and justice.
• A global call for prayer, advocacy, and action from Christians and people of conscience to support the survivors and help them rebuild their lives and heritage.
“This is our testimony as indigenous Christians from Gwoza,” the report concludes. “The blood and ruins cry out for justice. We have endured atrocities for too long, hoping things would change. They have not. The time for denial and silence is over. Please talk about it until the world knows.”
The report was jointly signed by Rev. Dr. (Arc) Ayuba John Bassa, GCCA National Coordinator, and Rev. Filibus K. Goma, Chairman BOT GCCA. Njenje Media News is committed to providing ongoing coverage of this developing story.
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