Day 13: West Africa

30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening

Verses for contemplation: Isaiah 42:1-9

Of the 4,476 Christians worldwide who died last year for their faith, 3,100 were martyred in Nigeria. Attacks on churches in that country during worship have become tragically commonplace, along with mass shootings and abductions (2,830 last year). Since the beginning of 2025, Morning Star News reports:

• On January 1, Fulani militants attacked a Christian village in Kaduna State, burning down a building and six houses, and forcing all residents to flee.
• January 6, Fulani herdsmen killed three Christians in Plateau State.
• January 12-13 Muslim Boko Haram terrorists attacked Christian villages in Chibok County, killing at least two, wounding others and burning down churches.
• January 27-31, ten Christians were massacred in Plateau State.
• January 30, the Nigerian government released 5,000 Boko Haram terrorists, saying they had repented and been de-radicalized. The same day, Boko Haram militants attacked a village in Chibok County, burning down a church.
• On January 30, a pastor and two other Christians were murdered by Fulani bandits in Nauru County.
• On January 31, seven Christians were killed and dozens kidnapped by bandits in Zakada village, while a Christian man was killed and another injured in Akansa village.
• On February 1, Fulani herdsmen killed a Christian and kidnapped four others in Plateau State.
• February 2, 17 Christians were abducted in Fadan Ruruma.
• February 3 and 5, Fulani herdsmen killed six Christians and kidnapped eight in Benue State.
• On February 5, Fulani herdsmen killed three Christians in Kaduna State, just a week after killing three others.
• February 9, Islamic extremists killed a pastor in his home in Gombe State.
• In Borno State, Boko Haram militants killed at least two Christians, injured others, burned down five church buildings and 74 houses.
• On March 4, a Catholic priest was kidnapped and killed in Kaduna State.

Between Islamic extremism, tribal rivalry and an inordinate number of coups, West Africa is fraught with violence. Just within the last few years, a military takeover occurred in Guinea and two each in both Mali and Burkina Faso, while a coup attempt in Niger failed.

Prayer points to consider:

• Unreached peoples (especially Nigeria and Mali)
• Terrorism, Muslim extremists
• Churches raided, burned
• Christians abducted, beaten, murdered, raped
• Thousands of martyrs
• Lawlessness, violence, human trafficking
• Coups and more coups
• Poverty, homelessness
• Tribal religions, demon worship

Prayer starter:

Lord, please protect every Christian in West Africa from persecution and harm. Hide them from evildoers, but give them favor with everyone else. Bless them abundantly, and shine Your love, forgiveness and truth through them in such powerful ways others will gladly run into Your arms. Cast out fear with Your perfect love. Increase Christians’ faith and use them to boldly share Your Good News. About 90% of recent martyrs have died for their faith in Nigeria. O Lord, turn the violent tide around. We speak LIFE over West Africa. For every Christian who is killed or harmed, bring 1,000 Muslims to faith in You, Jesus. Display Your glory in such miraculous ways terrorists drop their weapons and fall to their knees in fear of You. Open the eyes of the blind. Heal the sick. Rescue the dying. Show them You are the Savior they long for and only in Your Kingdom will they at last find peace. Please be a Shield around children and women especially. Protect them from abduction and rape. Distract their abusers and make the way of escape for every victim. Let them know You are with them, and heal them, Lord. Bring Christian counselors to them to help them to freedom from trauma. Set abusers free from the demons that use them for evil purposes, and turn all eyes to You. Provide for those in need, and do it in such a way they will know it is You. Make a way for every tribe and language to hear Your Good News and receive You as Savior. May Your name be praised all across West Africa, as You awaken them to Your love.

Parallel Prayer: Our 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening coincides with Ramadan. March 1-30, Muslims throughout the world are fasting and seeking God right now. Let’s pray they find Him! 

Lord, we cry out for the many thousands of Nigerians who are murdered for their faith by Muslim extremists every year. So many Christians all throughout West Africa have been beaten, their homes burned for believing in Jesus. Please, God, we ask You to get up in the face of every Muslim in this region. Lift the veil from their eyes so they can see You as You truly are. Whenever they lift a hand to kidnap, rape, harm or murder a Christian, let them see Your angel armies. Cut them to the core with remorse for their sin, and bring them to their knees in repentance. This month, as Muslims fast for Ramadan, give them such powerful encounters with You that they turn from Islam to follow Truth. John 14:6.

Dinner and a Prayer: Each day during these 30 days, we will share with you ideas for special family prayer times, including a suggested menu to go with that day’s prayer theme. Today’s suggestions:

Search the internet to choose recipes from Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and/or Togo. You can also ask your children to research some of these countries and then share their findings with the family before prayer. Menu suggestions: benachin or jollof (Gambian rice), agege (Nigerian bread), peanut butter stew (Mali and Ivory Coast), West African lime cake

As you research today’s region of the world for prayer, type in a country name or other subject here in our search engine and see where God leads you.

Search

You can also go to Joshua Project to discover unreached peoples, and Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs to see where and how Christians are persecuted.

If you would like to plan ahead for international meals, see the “Dinner and a Prayer” section at the bottom of our 30 Days page or in the back of your 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening, Vol 2 book.

For suggestions on how to have an even fuller experience this coming month, check out our 30 Days and So You Think You Can’t Fast pages here at the Prayer Wall.

Help kids overcome fear and other strongholds through Pure-As-Gold Seal books like Rescue from Darkness, Out You Go, Fear! and more at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.

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Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:

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