By: Adeosun Ewatomi
*ISWAP TERRORISTS BURN DOWN CHRISTIAN VILLAGE IN ADAMAWA STATE AFTER DEMANDING CONVERSION TO ISLAM* ;
The peace of a rural community in Adamawa State, Nigeria, has been shattered following a violent invasion by fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Reports coming in from the region confirm that the extremist group attacked a predominantly Christian village, leaving behind a trail of destruction and fear.
According to local witnesses and survivors, the insurgents arrived in large numbers, heavily armed and riding on motorcycles. Upon entering the village, the terrorists reportedly gave the residents a terrifying ultimatum: convert to Islam or face death.
When the villagers refused to renounce their faith and comply with the demands of the attackers, the situation turned violent. The terrorists began shooting sporadically into the air to displace the residents before setting fire to homes, food barns, and community structures.
This latest attack is part of a worrying trend of targeted violence in Northern Nigeria. ISWAP, a splinter group of Boko Haram, has increasingly focused on enforcing its strict ideology on local populations.
In this instance, the destruction was total. Most of the villagers were forced to flee into nearby bushes and mountains with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Those who escaped say they watched from a distance as their entire livelihood went up in smoke.