World Tour - Jihadist violence in Africa

NICK EICHER, HOST: Next up, World Tour with Africa reporter Onize Ohikere.

ONIZE OHIKERE, REPORTER: Christian attacks in Nigeria—We start today here in Africa.

A pastor abducted by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria appeared in a video this week pleading for his freedom. Rev. Lawan Andimi asked his colleagues to appeal to the local governor for help negotiating his release.

ANDIMI: I still believe that God, who made them to act in such a way, is still alive and will make all arrangements. By the grace of God I will be together with my wife, my children, and all my colleagues. If the opportunity has not been granted, maybe it is the will of God.

Andimi’s kidnapping on January 3rd was just one in a string of attacks targeting Christians. On December 22nd, militants ambushed two passenger buses in Borno state. They separated the Christians from the Muslims before killing three men on the spot. One was a pastor. The militants abducted three other passengers.

On Christmas Day, an offshoot of the Islamic State terror group released a video showing the beheading of 10 Christians. And on January 8th, armed Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed 13 Christians in Plateau state, while armed bandits kidnapped four students from a Catholic seminary in Kaduna state.

Militant attack kills 89 troops in Niger—Next to Niger.

AUDIO: [Man speaking French]

The government declared three days of mourning on Monday after 89 soldiers died in a jihadist attack on a military camp. The attack happened near the border with Mali.

Both countries have struggled to beat back a jihadist uprising that started in 2012. Despite regional efforts to contain the violence, the militants have only grown stronger.

Thousands of civilians have died in the fighting. And more than a million have fled their homes.

Philippines braces for volcanic eruption—Next we go to Southeast Asia.

Much of the Philippines remains on high alert as the Taal volcano continues to rumble.

AUDIO: [Sound of shovel scraping up mud]

Residents of towns near the volcano are scraping mud and ash off roads and rooftops. But they might have to do it all again in the coming days.

Officials warn an “explosive eruption” could happen soon. Thousands of people have evacuated communities closest to the volcano. It last erupted in 1977.

Taiwanese president wins reelection—And finally, we end today in Taiwan.

AUDIO: [Tsai Ing-wen speaking Mandarin]

President Tsai Ing-wen won a commanding victory in Saturday’s election. She beat out an opponent widely viewed as wanting stronger ties with China.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has threatened to retake the island by force, if necessary. But Tsai insisted her government would not “concede to threats and intimidation.” She also noted that with every election, the Taiwanese people show how much they cherish their “free, democratic way of life.”

That’s this week’s World Tour. For WORLD Radio, I’m Onize Ohikere reporting from Abuja, Nigeria.

(AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) Supporters of Taiwan’s 2020 presidential election candidate, Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen cheer for Tsai’s victory in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. 

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