Boko Haram Kills Many Villagers in Nigeria on Christmas Eve

On December 24, seven people were killed in an attack carried out by Boko Haram on Christmas Eve in the volatile village of Pemi, in northeastern Nigeria, local sources said.

Boko Haram Kills Many Villagers in Nigeria on Christmas Eve

The incident happened when gunmen raided the village of Pemi, opened fire, killed 7 people, burned 10 houses and looted food that was intended to be distributed to people on Christmas. They also stole medicine from a hospital and kidnapped a priest before setting fire to the two areas. The death toll is likely to rise further, as many villagers fled into the forest during the attack and some are still missing.

The village of Pemi is just 20 kilometers from the town of Chibok, where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls six years ago. Most of the inhabitants of the village are Christians.

In another separate incident on the same day, gunmen attacked the Christian community in Garkida, in neighboring Adamawa state, looting drug and food stores, before burning homes. There are no reports of casualties from this attack.

Earlier, the Nigerian Security Service warned of the risk of attacks, urging people to exercise caution and report strange events. The agency confirmed that it is coordinating with other units to take appropriate measures to protect people’s lives and properties. In his latest statement, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari reaffirmed his commitment to fighting without tolerance against Boko Haram and other criminals.

Since 2009, Boko Haram militants have carried out attacks, destabilizing the northeastern region of Nigeria that have killed at least 36,000 people and displaced around 2 million people. In October, Boko Haram elements carried out two attacks near the city of Maiduguri, killing 22 civilians. The wave of violence has also spread to neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, leading to the formation of a military alliance between the countries to fight the rebels.

Pope Francis sends Christmas message 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pope gave the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (to the city of Rome and to the world) online from the pulpit inside the Vatican, rather than from the central balcony. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican) in front of tens of thousands of people. This year’s pope’s message also focuses primarily on the pandemic and its effects on the economy and society.

Pope Francis urged countries to share vaccines against COVID-19, stressing that building a “wall of nationalism” cannot stop the pandemic – which knows no borders. According to the Pope, health is an international issue, so it is necessary to criticize the so-called “vaccine nationalism” – which United Nations (UN officials) fear could aggravate the pandemic if poor countries get the final vaccine.

“Faced with challenges without borders, we cannot erect walls. We are all together in one boat,” Pope Francis said.

In addition, he called for peace and reconciliation, and at the same time urged countries to build global solidarity, to help countries engulfed in conflict and humanitarian crisis or suffering from natural disasters, including Syria. , Yemen, Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon, Burkina Fasso, Mali, Niger, Philippines and Vietnam.

According to Pope Francis, the call for solidarity is especially addressed to “the most vulnerable, those who suffer from illness and all those who are at this stage without work or in severe difficulty due to the pandemic.” COVID-19 and for women who are victims of domestic violence.”

According to tradition, each year the Pope gives the Urbi et Orbi blessing (to Rome and to the whole world) on Christmas and Easter.