Muslim Usman Muhammed purposefully drove an 18-wheel trailer truck filled with grain over a crowd of Christians during a Resurrection Sunday (Easter) procession in Billiri, Gombe state, on April 21. Six died and more than 30 were injured, many of them permanently maimed. (April 30, Christian Daily International-Morning Star News)
According to community leaders, Usman then stopped the truck and ran toward a police vehicle. They helped him inside and then drove away, leaving both dead and live bodies trapped beneath the loaded trailer. The injured were rushed to the hospital in Billiri, but no emergency medications or other items were available there to help them. Volunteer medical workers bought what they needed from another pharmacy.
Earlier that morning, Usman hit a Christian man and daughter on a motorcycle, as they exited a Resurrection Day service. They survived, but the girl sustained several injuries, especially her leg.
During Christmas celebrations in December in Gombe city, a Muslim driver ran into a crowd of Christians, injuring up to 15.
Nigeria ranks #1 in the number of Christians martyred yearly. Of the 4,476 Christians killed for their faith worldwide in 2024, 3,100 (69 percent) were in Nigeria.
Lord, please comfort those who mourn, heal the bodies and minds of every survivor of these horrific attacks, and provide for all their needs. Speak tenderly to their broken spirits. Conquer devastating memories with the healing power of Your love and grace. Grip Usman with fear of the Lord, and give him a deep hunger for Jesus. Urge authorities to imprison him for murder, and use that time to speak to Usman in loud ways, show him his sin and draw him to Yourself. Open his eyes to see You as You truly are and his ears to hear Your voice calling him to salvation. Father, have mercy, please. Change the tide of violence in Nigeria. In this most deadliest place in the world for Christians, we speak, “LIFE, in the name of Jesus!” Protect the innocent. Bring every persecutor to their knees before You, as You did Paul, and show them who You are. Haunt their dreams, visit them throughout the day, topple the lies they believe with Truth, and show Yourself strong on behalf of victims in such miraculous ways that every terrorist will tremble in fear, drop their weapons and repent, surrendering to Your love and salvation. Be a Shield around every believer, guarding them and their families from harm. Empower them by Your Spirit to speak Truth and act in love, joy, peace, forgiveness and faith, with a demonstration of Your power, as You perform miracles and wonders in the sight of their persecutors and leave crowds in awe of You. Heal the sick, the lame, the wounded, the blind. Raise the dead to life. When guns or other weapons are aimed at Christians, cause them to misfire and drop to the ground. When fists or feet are lifted to beat or kick a believer, freeze them in place so the persecutor is unable to move and must ask the Christian to pray for them first before they are freed. When evildoers seek to burn down a house or church, coat that place with Your protection, pushing back the flames so it never catches fire. Send shockingly visible angels to surround every believer, church and home, stepping in front to block enemy attacks. Turn every curse spoken against a Christian into a blessing instead, and bring such disastrous events upon persecutors that they know beyond any doubt You did that, so they will repent in fear of the Lord and turn to You. Move as never before in Nigeria, O God. Awaken every heart to Your love. Bring witchdoctors to faith in You, leading whole villages to burn their fetishes and choose You as Lord. Break the power of demons over every life, Jesus, so those who have lived in fear will now hunger for You and seek You desperately until they find You. Lift the veil from their eyes, break their bonds, set them free from the enemy’s clutches, so they can see You as You truly are, choose to worship You alone as God and finally live the abundant life they were created for. John 10:10. Raise up a generation holy unto You of preachers and missionaries who will take Your Good News into every dark corner of Nigeria, Africa and beyond, penetrating the darkness with Light and changing lives forever with Your love.
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