The pastor identified as Rev. Joseph Kurah, a pastor with the
Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), in Obi town, Nasarawa has been
killed.
He was killed by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen on Thursday June 30th 2016.
According to World Watch Monitor, Rev. Kurah, accompanied by three
other people, went to his farm at about 7 pm to cut down trees for
roofing wood. But as they arrived at the farm, two armed men suddenly
appeared from behind them.
The attackers chased them and quickly surrounded Rev. Kurah while
his three companions managed to flee in different directions without
harm. The lifeless and severely mutilated body of Rev Kurah was later
recovered from the scene.
Local sources told WWM that the attackers, who spoke Fulani, were
dressed as Fulani herdsmen with their faces open, showing tribal marks
on their cheeks.
Some members of the local church at Obi told WWM that there was an
earlier argument with a Muslim farmer in the community over the
ownership of the farm. Many among the Christian community suspect the
Fulani-herdsmen gang of being hired by the local Muslim to carry out the
killing.
A man introducing himself as the nephew of the murdered pastor gave chilling details, in a series of tweets with graphic photos:
“They attacked him on his farm, cut off his arms and legs; then
they chopped his head with a machete. I received a call on Thursday
evening that my uncle, a pastor with ECWA was killed by Fulani
herdsmen.”
He also called on the authorities to find the killers of his uncle Rev Kurah.
“All I want is justice to be done. Nasarawa State and the
Federal Government must find the killers of my uncle. Whoever is close
to Governor Al-Makura of Nasarawa State should please inform him that we
demand the perpetrators should be brought to book.
“We have become preys that are hunted by marauding beasts in
our land. I will keep shouting till justice is done. For how long will
we suffer? He has left a very young family; three of his children are
currently in the university. No one is saying anything about the
clandestine killings by Fulani herdsmen happening almost every day,” he said.
So far, the state government has remained silent over the matter,
while some people that claim ownership of the farm land have now been
arrested and are being investigated over the killing.
The killing of Rev Kurah has provoked an atmosphere of anger and
sorrow among local Christians, with many in the area are now afraid of
going to their farms.
Rev. Joseph Kurah left behind a wife and seven children. His body
was buried July 5, 2016 by the ministers of the Evangelical Church
Winning All (ECWA).
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