Yet More Abductions, Murders, as U.S. Delegation Arrives in Nigeria

On Sunday morning, December 7, gunmen attacked Christians preparing for worship at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Isiokwe, Anambra state. They murdered a priest’s wife and another Christian, injured many others, abducted the Rev. Venerable Obies, and set fire to the church, vehicles, homes and other Christians’ property. (Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, December 9)

On November 30, terrorists attacked Christians as they worshipped at Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Kofi state, and abducted Pastor Orlando, his wife and several church members. (International Christian Concern, December 3)

On November 17, Fulani terrorists attacked New Gboko village in Southern Taraba. When Orkeghen Philip Aondofa, 29, who was in southern Nigeria at the time, heard the news, he called his father, but another voice answered in Hausa language, “We have killed your father. Come and collect his body; we are waiting for you.” In the following days, the killings increased. Orkeghen lost 12 family members. “They burnt down my village… everything is gone…. There is no accommodation, no food. People are sleeping outside…. Let government stop the killings so we can return home. I just want to bury my father.” (Mike Odeh James, Elisha Ayes, TruthNigeria, December 9)

After capturing and occupying New Gboko, the Muslim terrorists moved on to another Christian village, Tse Sabe. “They have surrounded the village, and they are killing anyone who goes out to the bushes,” said Grace Tesem, 27, mother of two.

Fulani jihadists have now taken control of at least 16 other villages in the region since October:

• Unom — 29 Oct, completely overrun; multiple killings, confirmed takeover
• Aburabur — 4 Nov, deserted after targeted killing; militants remain
• Amadu — 4–10 Nov, full militant control; movement restricted
• Kwanta — 8 Nov, steady militant presence following killing of Tersoo Iornger Felix
• Demevar — 9–18 Nov, two killings, sustained occupation
• Ansua — 12 Nov–1 Dec, multiple attacks, takeover confirmed
• Gande — 17 Nov, largely abandoned, militants still in place
• Orkaa — 30 Nov, residents fled after killings, area under influence
• Peeking — 21 Nov, no civilian return reported
• Jabi — 29 Nov, mass flight after the killing of Rev. Fidelis Akegh
• Tse Atoo — 29 Nov, deserted following targeted attack
• Atsanger — 29–30 Nov, repeated killings, active control
• Gbum — 2 Dec, immediate evacuation, militants settled
• Ikyabashi — 3 Dec, freshly seized; residents displaced overnight
• Kaamen — date unspecified, confirmed taken; Zaki Mlumun Adenger murdered
• Gbum (Hamlet) — a separate smaller settlement also seized

Villagers in Takum County have told TruthNigeria that the Nigerian military stationed in the area routinely fails to respond to terror alerts and rarely intervenes when Fulani militias launch attacks on Christian communities.

“Today, men of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS)—the security outfit that is supposed to stop terrorists from attacking people—arrested 50 Christians on allegations that they kidnapped two Fulani herders,” (Fr. George Dogo of Holy Family Cathedral, Takum) told TruthNigeria.

“However, the same military outfit has refused to intervene militarily to stop Fulani terrorists from attacking Christians.”

Malam Zubair Ussa, a native of Takum, also alleged that the Taraba State government is working to suppress information about what he described as an ongoing genocide in Southern Taraba.

“I hardly hear about the killings in Amadu, Demave, New Gboko, and other places in the newspapers. Similarly, the state government is not talking about it,” Ussa told TruthNigeria.

“Though the governor of Taraba is a Christian, and the state is majority Christian, we have not seen any effort to defend the population from terrorist attacks.”

Mike Odeh James, Elisha Ayes, TruthNigeria, December 9

These attacks follow U.S. President Donald Trump designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to persecution of Christians, about 7,600 of whom were murdered this year.

A U.S. delegation arrived in Nigeria over the weekend to discuss concrete steps and actions to defeating terrorist organizations and halting the slaughter of Christians. Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu received the delegation, which included several U.S. Congress members and Ambassador Richard Mills.

Father God, please guide the conversations between NSA Ribadu, Ambassador Mills and others this week. Make the way for the killings and abductions to stop. Give every government official, soldier, police officer, village guard and volunteer courage, wisdom and Your empowering to stand strong against attackers and protect their communities. Bring Your angels to their aid to fight alongside them and to shield every man, woman and child from harm. When the alarm is sounded that an attack is imminent, push the military and police into action and use them to defeat every terrorist attack and cell. Protect every citizen, village and freedom fighter from harm. Be near to Orkeghen, Grace and other Christians mourning the loss of their homes, family members and Christian communities. Comfort them with Your love, heal their minds and hearts, give them grace to forgive, protect them by Your mighty hand, and provide for all their needs in such miraculous ways, thousands of Muslims will hear the stories of Your love and provision and place their faith in Jesus. Rescue Rev. Obies, Pastor Orlando and all other Christians and innocent Nigerians who have been abducted. Heal their bodies, minds and hearts, and protect them from harm. Be a Shield around them, blocking every evil move against them. Give them hope and comfort. Console them with Your voice and empower them to forgive. Give them Your words to speak love and truth to their captors, and break the chains that bind every terrorist to the evil one. Cast out fear with Your perfect love. And make the way now for their quick and safe release. Please, Lord, bring an end to the kidnappings and violence in Nigeria. Make a way where there seems to be no way for families and communities to at last live in peace. March in Your angel armies and crush Satan’s plans. Trap him in his own schemes and return upon him 1,000-fold the anguish he has caused Your people and children. Guide the hunters and tactical squads to the locations where the captives are held, and give them wisdom in each situation to safely free them, bringing down the terrorists without harming the victims. And open up the way for the kidnappers to hear Your good news and believe. Give jihadists a longing for something better than abusing children and seeking ransoms, something brighter than the spiritual darkness they’ve only known, something lasting and true. Give them a hunger for You. Get up in their face and show them Your grace, that You are the One they’ve been looking for all along. And save them by their mercy. Give them courage to lay down their weapons and lifestyle of terror to seek the God of Love and the abundant life found only in Christ. John 10:10. For every person abducted, snatch 1,000 terrorists from Satan’s hand and bring them into Your Kingdom through repentance and obedience to Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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