(OSV News) ─ A Nigerian bishop urged intensified military action to "eliminate" bandits and their hideouts in the Kainji Game Reserve amid reports of the killing of 50 people between Christmas and New Year's and traumatizing of children recently abducted from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri.
Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Kontagora recounted multiple attacks on both Christians and Muslims in his Jan. 6 press release, saying that the armed bandits had killed at least 50, attacked a Catholic church and police station, and carried out abductions of women and children, as they roamed freely in the Niger and Kebbi states from Dec. 28-Jan. 3.
The massacres were confirmed by the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need, or ACN.
"It is clear, pending the elimination of the bandits and their hideouts in Kainji Game Reserve, there is an immediate need for large and well-equipped military task force in the area capable of and empowered to pursue, engage and eliminate the bandits whenever they come out of the ... reserve for further attacks," Bishop Yohanna said in his statement.
"Without such a task force, there will be a massive and on-going loss of lives and permanent displacement of large numbers of people," he said.
The attacks by the bandits in the two states came barely a week after the U.S. military carried out air strikes against the Islamic State group in the northwest of the western African country, in coordination with the Nigerian government.
On Jan. 3, the attackers struck Kasuwan Daji, a small village in Niger state with a large Wednesday market, killing 42 people, after tying their hands behind their backs. According to Bishop Yohanna, victims were both Christians and Muslims. The raiders also torched the market and surrounding houses, and kidnapped an unspecified number of women and children.
The bishop said following the attacks, which claimed so many innocent lives, panic is now widespread and rumors abound.
"In the entire area, there are many villages, however there is no single large town where people can run to for safety. Nevertheless, the people are evacuating the area in large numbers, abandoning their homes and property," he said.
On Jan. 2, the attackers had entered the Catholic church compound in Sokonbora Village in Niger state and destroyed a crucifix, a picture of the Stations of the Cross and musical instruments. The bandits also stole two motorcycles, mobile phones and money. The day before, they had burned documents at a police station in the Shafaci area of Niger state.
Attacks and kidnappings for ransom -- by gangs locally known as bandits -- have troubled Nigeria for several years, but analysts say the incidents have spiked recently in the country's central and western regions.
While some leaders say Christians make up the majority of the victims, many local church and faith leaders say both groups -- both Christians and Muslims are suffering from the bandits' violence.
ACN expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the wave of violence, and joined the local Church's urgent appeal, calling on Nigerian authorities to take immediate and effective measures to protect civilians, end the impunity of armed groups, and restore security to the region.
Some of the children in the Kasuwan Daji kidnapping are believed to be victims of the Nov. 21 mass abduction of school children at Catholic-run St. Mary's Primary and Secondary School in Papiri.
Over 300 children and teachers were kidnapped from the school, and while 50 managed to escape, the rest were only released right before Christmas.
Bishop Yohanna said the recently released children from the Catholic school in Papiri were further traumatized, as they were forced to hide in the bush with their families, both day and night, whenever reports indicated the bandits were nearby.
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Fredrick Nzwili writes for OSV News from Nairobi, Kenya.
