11/21/2016 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Boko Haram has launched yet another attack in the Chibok area. On Saturday, November 19, militants burned the homes and crops of villagers in Makalama, a Christian community with about two thousand inhabitants. Makalama is in the Chibok local council area about 15 kilometers from Chibok village. While no one was killed, many villagers lost their crops and homes. Several were injured. Boko Haram has launched a series of attacks against Christians in the Chibok area since the start of November despite recent government attempts to counter Boko Haram.

Multiple sources have confirmed the attack, including Pastor Filibus Madu, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chibok local council, who said: “they [Boko Haram militants] came to Makalama suddenly on Saturday night and started shooting. They burned down houses, but God saved the lives of the people.”

The Church of the Brethren’s General Secretary, Rev. Daniel Mbaya, also confirmed the attack: “our District Church Council Secretary covering the area just updated me. It is devastating! Eighty percent of the houses in the village were burnt. Though there was no loss of lives, three persons sustained bullet injuries.”

Burning homes and crops have proven to be an efficient weapon for Boko Haram. Even if they cannot kill Christians immediately, the militants can ensure that there is no food or shelter for villagers. This forces village inhabitants to move or starve. Pastor Madu emphasized that “some of [Makalama’s] villagers had already harvested their crops and stored them, but the crops were burned by the insurgents. Prayer is keeping us in Chibok, otherwise we would not be existing by now.”

Chibok villagers also recalled the incident: “we were at a trauma counselling program in another town with some of the residents of the village [Makalama] when news of the attack reached us. We were thrown into confusion.”

Villagers have acknowledged that the militants would have achieved complete destruction if it was not for the Nigerian military’s intervention. However, more military resources and manpower are necessary to more adequately protect villagers. Pastor Madu acknowledged the military detachment in Chibok and that the unit’s commander is attempting to restrain these type of attacks, but he is understaffed compared to Boko Haram’s militants. “The area is so vast; more military personnel should be deployed” contends Pastor Madu. “But who will speak for us?”

The Nigerian government has focused on notable military victories over Boko Haram, but have not addressed Boko Haram’s shift in targeting strategy. With the government restricting their resources, Boko Haram militants have targeted Christian populations rather than Nigerians in general. Surprise suicide bombings, raids, and shootings on Christian areas are trending upwards. In the last several weeks alone, suicide bombers have killed at least thirteen people, injuring and displacing many more in the area surrounding Chibok village. In addition to increased attacks against Christians, Boko Haram is increasing its use of female militants to facilitate surprise attacks.

More needs to be done to safeguard and protect the vulnerable populations who have become impoverished by Boko Haram’s prolonged, deadly invasion against Christian areas. As villagers have testified in this most recent attack, the Nigerian military can reduce the lethal militants’ attacks, however there are too few soldiers and resources in areas like Chibok to do so effectively. We encourage the Nigerian government to focus on protecting vulnerable populations from attacks.