Russian church helps people displaced by Islamist attack in Nigeria (PHOTOS)
Following a deadly attack on a Christian community in Nigeria earlier this year, two drinking water wells have been drilled in with church backing, the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa said on Sunday.
The assault by Islamist militants on the village of Turan in Benue State in early March, left several people dead and forced survivors to flee their homes. Among the victims were two members of a local Russian Orthodox community operating in the village.
“These are the first African parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church to be killed for their faith,” the Exarchate said in a statement.
Following the violence, hundreds of residents fled to neighboring areas. Aid workers reported a severe shortage of clean drinking water in makeshift camps. Geological surveys were conducted in late March, and within weeks two wells equipped with pumps were completed to restore access to water for displaced families in temporary settlements in Benue State for refugees from the village of Turan.
Funding for the project was raised through the Exarchate’s official channels, with additional humanitarian assistance delivered to those affected. Food supplies were distributed to families at risk of starvation, while medical care continues for the wounded. Support also included covering tuition and relocation costs for schoolchildren after local schools in Turan were shut down.
Reconstruction efforts are now underway, including the construction of traditional clay-and-wood housing for the displaced residents and a temporary church in the new settlement.
According to the Exarchate, more than 300 displaced people were left without shelter, sleeping outdoors on bare ground and often hiding in bushes to avoid the risk of further attacks. Emergency assistance later included the distribution of mattresses and the organization of temporary accommodation. The Exarchate also reported that many of the injured suffered serious wounds, including gunshot injuries, while children sustained fractures.
“On behalf of all those under our care, we express our deepest gratitude to Metropolitan Constantine and all the kind people from Russia who helped us in this difficult time,” Archimandrite Nifont, a rector within the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, said.
