Ugom Community is located in Maro Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area, in the southern part of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The community comprises six villages: Ehwakya (A.K.A Unguwar Sarki), Anumilup (A.K.A Dogon-Noma), Iwhoshro (A.K.A Unguwar Rogo), Alarigō (A.K.A Abente), Ekarawo (Maikori), and Ezayi (A.K.A Dantaro).
We have been an indigenous Christian community for many centuries. When the American president, Donald Trump, declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over the persistent killing of Christians, some people argued that it was not true that Nigerian Christians were facing genocide. Others claimed it was not a religious crisis.
However, based on our past and present experiences in the Ugom Community, we have no doubt that what we are suffering is a religious genocide. We have come to believe that these attacks are targeted mainly because we are Christians.
THE 2019 DOGON-NOMA ATTACK
On the 11th of March, 2019, Anumilup (Dogon-Noma) was attacked by terrorists early in the morning, around 6:20 a.m. The attackers—more than five hundred (500) armed men—came with guns, machetes, and pangas. They surrounded the entire village and began shooting at anyone in sight with automatic weapons.
Before killing our helpless villagers, they first shouted “Allahu Akbar” and continued chanting it as they went about the massacre.
In the village lived an aged man who practised Islam and had a small mosque where only he and some Muslim passersby prayed. That morning, he was observing his Sahur prayers when the attackers arrived.
According to his account, one of them asked, “What are you doing here?” He replied that he had just finished Sahur. Another asked, “Are you a Muslim?” He answered, “Yes.” One of the attackers then said, “You may be lying. We were told there are no Muslims here. How come you claim to be one?”
Before the old man could respond, another attacker said, “He could be telling the truth—we can see a mosque here. Let’s ask him to recite some Islamic prayers.” They agreed and asked him to do so. After the old man recited three different Islamic prayers, the terrorists shouted “Allahu Akbar” and told him, “We are glad you are one of us. Go inside the mosque and do not come out. If you do, those coming behind may mistakenly kill you.”
The old man said he pointed out his house and those of his children, but the attackers still set his children’s houses ablaze, burning everything. They did this because all seven children were Christians.
Today, that mosque still stands, while three churches and their pastoriums were burned down—two ECWA Church denominations and one Catholic Church.
CASUALTY AND DAMAGE REPORT (2019 ATTACK):
DEAD: 71 men, women, and children
INJURED: 35 men, women, and children
Houses destroyed: 249
THE 2022 EKARAWO ATTACK
On Sunday, 5th June 2022, Ekarawo of Ugom Community was attacked. All the houses, the ECWA Church, and the pastorium were burned down. The terrorists chanted “Allahu Akbar” and pursued Rev. Denis. He could hear them shouting, “You are the pastor—even if someone else survives, you must not live!”
By the grace of God, he miraculously survived despite gunfire coming from every direction that day.
EZAYI COMMUNITY DISPLACEMENT (2023–PRESENT)
Since 2023, the people of Ezayi in the Ugom Community have fled their village after suffering repeated attacks. Up till today, not even domestic animals can be found there, let alone human beings.
THE 2025 NEW YEAR’S DAY ATTACK
On the 1st of January, 2025—New Year’s Day—the Iwhoshro village of the Ugom Community was invaded. The first building burned was the ECWA Church in Unguwar Rogo, followed by the pastorium.
OUR PLEA FOR TRUTH AND PROTECTION
After all that has clearly unfolded, some people insist that we should not say Christians are being targeted—arguing that Muslims too are victims of terrorism. However, we in the Ugom Community find it difficult to accept such claims.
For nearly a decade, we have faced relentless attacks, destruction, and loss—realities that leave no doubt about what we have been going through. Our experience speaks louder than any attempt to downplay or generalise our suffering.
OUR CRY FOR HELP
We, the people of Ugom Community, have suffered sustained and brutal attacks for almost ten years. We urgently call on the international community, regional organisations, and humanitarian partners to provide immediate protection, lifesaving aid, and support for accountability and recovery.
Our families are exhausted, wounded, and in desperate need of help. Please, we appeal to world leaders and humanitarian partners to act now to save our land and lives.
Signed,
Onnusim Alhaji Ishaya
Chairman, Ugom Progressive Union
