Baroness Cox And John Eibner Write To Luka Binniyat, Still In Prison, As New Attacks Hit Kaduna State Christians
Supporters cheered on Thursday as Luka Binniyat, the Nigerian journalist imprisoned since 4 November for his reporting on massacres of Christians in his native Kaduna state, was finally granted bail by the federal court overseeing his case.
But the journalist remains in prison at present, while his supporters work to meet the onerous bail conditions set by the judge.
For Binniyat to be released, two different individuals must guarantee his bond. Each must have more than one million naira (about 2,400 USD) in a bank account, and each must present a “Certificate of Occupancy” identifying them as a landholder in Kaduna state.
Read the full story at Nigeria Report.
Caroline Cox, an independent member of the UK House of Lords, and Dr. John Eibner, the president of Christian Solidarity International, have written to Luka Binniyat in prison.
"The way the authorities deal with you has all the hallmarks of the political persecution of a journalist and human rights defender," Cox and Eibner wrote. "While they intend your imprisonment to be an intimidating display of power, it in fact reveals profound weakness on their part. The mighty inevitably become fearful when light is shed on atrocity crimes and the perpetrators who remain unpunished."
Read the full story at Nigeria Report.
Fulani militants have attacked the Christian village of Kurmin Masara in southern Kaduna state twice since Sunday. According to Nigeria Report's sources, at least sixteen people have been killed, 58 houses burned. St. James Catholic Church in the village was also attacked.
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Nigeria Report is a project of Christian Solidarity International. Its goal is to spread awareness of, and promote solutions for, the widespread sectarian violence afflicting Nigeria.
Christian Solidarity International (CSI) is a Christian human rights organization promoting religious liberty and human dignity.