In a shocking attack in Nigerias Plateau State armed bandits stormed a hospital abducted Christian girls and subjected them to hours of assault in a rocky hideout Rev Ezekiel Dachomo provides harrowing details of the incident .
Attack on Hospital in Plateau State
Ezekiel Dachomo Regional Chairman of Church of Christ in Nations in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area Plateau State described a brutal incident in which armed bandits invaded a hospital abducted Christian girls and subjected them to sexual violence in a rocky area .
According to Dachomo the attack occurred on a Saturday evening around eight pm when the assailants heavily armed with rifles swords and machetes stormed the facility The hospital was used by patients receiving treatment including the girls who were later targeted .
Abduction and Assault of Christian Girls
After seizing the girls the attackers dragged them into a rocky area outside the hospital The girls identified as Christians were isolated and gang raped at gunpoint for more than eight hours .
Dachomo added that Muslim girls who were also taken were spared this particular ordeal suggesting the violence was targeted specifically at Christian victims .
One of the victims a girl who had visited the hospital only to care for her admitted mother was reportedly beaten before being taken along with the others for the assault .
Escape Return and Medical Response
Following the prolonged assault some of the girls either escaped or were abandoned by the assailants Dachomo reported that many crawled back to the hospital around midnight calling for help Medical staff at the hospital responded swiftly providing care and treatment to survivors .
Context Targeting of Christians and Parallel Abduction
Dachomo framed the attack as part of a broader plan to target Christian citizens in the region He noted that on the same day the wife of a church member Zephaniah Mangut was abducted by the same bandits .
He lamented that this is the life of a Christian in Nigeria highlighting the fear and vulnerability felt by his congregation and community at large .
Implications and Reaction
The violence described by Dachomo raises serious concerns about security religious targeting gender based violence and the protection of vulnerable groups in conflict prone regions of Nigeria The separation of victims by religion suggests possible hate motivated dimensions of the crime The use of a healthcare facility as the location of the abduction highlights a severe breach of safety for civilians seeking medical help .
Dachomo also indicated personal risk to his life following the release of a video statement detailing the events stating that he is now living in fear and hardship .
What We Do Know
- Date of attack Saturday seventeenth of October twenty twenty five .
- Location a hospital in the Barkin Ladi area of Plateau State Nigeria .
- Perpetrators described as heavily armed bandits wielding rifles swords and machetes .
- Victims several Christian girls who were patients or at the hospital to attend to sick relatives .
- Nature of attack abduction from hospital followed by transfer into a rocky hideout gang rape at gunpoint for more than eight hours survivors returned or crawled back at midnight .
- Additional abduction on the same day the wife of Zephaniah Mangut was also taken .
What Remains Unclear
- Exact number of victims Dachomo did not provide a precise count of how many girls were abducted and assaulted .
- Confirmation of attacker identity while described as bandits there has been no official attribution or arrest publicly reported at this time .
- Official response it is not yet clear whether state security agencies have responded or given statements .
- Medical or psychological follow up details of the survivors condition beyond immediate hospital care are not yet available .
- Legal recourse there is no visible public update of prosecutions or formal investigations as of the latest reports .
Call to Action and Broader Concern
This account underscores the need for stronger protections for healthcare facilities and for the safety of patients caregivers and civilians in areas affected by armed conflict It also highlights the intersection of religious vulnerability and gender based violence which requires urgent attention by human rights groups the Nigerian government and international observers .
Local communities need additional psychosocial support survivors require medical and mental health follow up and faith communities such as the Church of Christ in Nations are seeking protection The international community should monitor and urge transparent investigations and accountability for such atrocities .
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources Readers should cross check updates from official news outlets .