No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead in a violent clash that erupted between two churches in Taraba State.
Out of the slain victims, two were siblings while the third person was a 27-year-old man.
The clash was between members of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) and the Global Methodist Church in Nigeria (GMCN) in the Munga-Dosso community of Karim-Lamido Local Government Council of Taraba State.
The first victim, 27-year-old Elisha Masoyi, a UMCN member and brother to the church’s Lay Leader, was reportedly shot dead during the violence.
It was gathered that the two siblings, a four-year-old Abednego and a two-year-old baby, died when their home was set ablaze by suspected attackers from one of the factions.
The siblings were children of Mr. Abraham Kefas, the overseer of the Divine Success UMCN Nursery and Primary School in Munga-Dosso.
Apart from the killings, over ten people were also confirmed to have sustained various degrees of injuries in the attack and are presently undergoing medical attention.
Houses belonging to members of one of the factions were also reported to have been burned beyond recognition, including that of Dogara Salihu, the church’s secretary.
At the time of filing this report, the clashes that erupted last Sunday have led to the displacement of approximately 1,000 worshippers who are predominantly women and children.
The violence reportedly erupted on Sunday, December 15, when three GMCN pastors led members of their faction to forcefully enter the sealed UMCN No. 1 church in Munga-Dosso.
GMCN’s attempt to enter the church was resisted by UMCN members and was said to have led to clashes that escalated and spread to UMCN No. 3.
The conflict was said to have stemmed from a longstanding division between the UMCN and GMCN factions.
The Taraba State Government sealed three UMCN churches in Munga-Dosso—UMCN No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3—to prevent a breakdown of law and order after the GMCN faction broke away.
Speaking, the district Superintendent of UMCN in Munga-Dosso, Rev. Alim Thomas, said his efforts to involve the police to prevent the violence were unsuccessful.
Following the violence, 23 UMCN members were reportedly arrested by the Nigerian Army.
Police spokesperson Usman Abdullahi said the crisis occurred because some members of the GMCN unsealed one of the sealed church buildings for service.
