Yesterday evening, gunmen shot five family members of Mr Yakubu Kayit from Madauchi-Zonkwa, Kaduna State in Northern Nigeria, before setting their house ablaze with the victims inside.

Pastor Bitrus Titus of Living Faith Church, Zonkwa, informed Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) Nigeria that the sound of gun fire lasted for close to an hour last night, without any intervention from security personnel. He added that the victims' corpses were burnt beyond recognition. 

The attack prompted the young men in the Christian community to take to the streets in protest, demanding that soldiers stationed nearby be removed from their post.

Reverend Yunusa Nmadu, CEO of CSW Nigeria, who travelled to the area this morning and met protesters, said, "We are saddened by yet another attack on a predominately Christian community and urge the relevant security agents to live up to their responsibilities, especially since there has been a long standing threat that the community and others around would be attacked after the April 2011 presidential electoral violence in Kaduna State. Our hearts go out to the relatives and friends of the family that has been affected."

Andrew Johnston, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said, "We send our heartfelt condolences to the relations and friends of the Kayit family. It is deeply worrying to hear that despite the long-standing nature of the threat against the area, the security services did not come to the aid of the victims, and this sustained, brutal attack was allowed to continue for almost an hour. We urge those responsible for security in this area to fulfil their mandate to protect innocent civilians from attack."

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.