Plateau woman recounts family attack in documentary

A deeply disturbing documentary by Britain's Channel 4 has brought the horrific violence plaguing parts of Nigeria into sharp international focus. The program features the courageous testimony of Lisa Stephens, a woman from Plateau State, who recounts the brutal murder of her infant son and husband during a night-time attack on her home.

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I was asleep at night when we heard gunshots, i tried to wake my husband but he would not wake up. My baby was breastfeeding at the time, I tried to wake my husband be he didn’t respond.

Stephens's account is a gut-wrenching depiction of the terror faced by communities in Nigeria, where armed assailants reportedly broke into homes, killing indiscriminately. Her narrative, detailing how her ten-month-old baby was "sliced in two" and her husband shot and then "pierced with a knife," is a stark illustration of the barbarity that has become a grim reality for many.

The documentary, titled “Investigating a Village of Widows in Nigeria Amid Fears of a ‘Christian Genocide’,” connects this specific family tragedy to a wider pattern of violence. It references a March 29 attack on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North, where gunmen on motorcycles and in vehicles opened fire, killing an estimated 20 to 30 people, including women and children. The assailants' camouflage uniforms, resembling those of security forces, add a chilling layer to the accounts, raising questions about accountability and the state's role in protecting its citizens.

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When they entered our house they began to shake the door, when they couldn’t open the door, they used a knife to cut it and found the latch. They came in and found me breastfeeding my baby of ten months.

While international outlets like Channel 4 can bring global attention to these atrocities, the local perspective from Nigerian media like The Punch is crucial for understanding the ongoing impact. This story is not just a statistic; it's a personal tragedy that resonates deeply within the affected communities. The fear of "Christian genocide" mentioned in the documentary's title reflects a narrative that is particularly sensitive and debated within Nigeria, highlighting ethnic and religious dimensions that often go unexamined in broader international coverage. The raw emotion in Stephens's voice, as shared by Punch, underscores the urgent need for peace and justice within Nigeria.

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They seized the baby and sliced him in two with a knife. After that they shot my husband and then pierced him with a knife.