Just a week after 27 Christians were killed on Palm Sunday in Jos, Plateau state, suspected Fulani militants attacked the Christian communities of Mbalom and Mbasombo, Benue state, killing 26 and transforming joyful Resurrection Day festivities into mourning and displacement. (Tim, Open Doors, April 7)
The same day, two churches in Ariko village, Kaduna state were attacked, resulting in 12 deaths and 31 kidnappings. The Nigerian army reported it promptly rescued those 31, but that report has been denied by the Christian Association of Nigeria and another local resident group.
Three more Christians were killed and others abducted in Maro Kasuwa, Kaduna state.
In separate attacks in southern Kaduna, some 15 worshippers were killed April 5.
In Zamfara state, bandits kidnapped more than 150 people, mostly women and children, from rural villages which are not Christian-majority.
In Debe village, Osun state, terrorists killed 24 people, including Christians, Muslims and traditional worshippers. Both a Catholic Church and a mosque were destroyed, among other properties, homes and businesses. The attack spread to Biniwa, where a market and the Emir’s residence were bombed and most of the village was damaged. Hundreds of people have been displaced. (Abah Anthony John, ACI Africa, April 12)
In Gwer East, Benue state, violence also hit Ikpayongo, near Makurdi, where a local youth volunteer commander was murdered.
In Nasarawa state, at least ten were killed and several homes destroyed in Gidan-Ogiri, Akyewa Baka, and Udege-Kasa villages. (International Christian Concern, April 6)
On Monday, two watchmen for Pwomol village, Plateau state, were killed by Fulani militants, and another person was seriously injured. One of the attackers, Suleiman, is now in custody.
- Pray for wisdom as church leaders care for their flocks and guide them through this difficult time.
- Pray for God’s comforting touch and peace over grieving families and congregations. Pray their faith will be deepened and He will give them courage and grace to forgive.
- Pray for protection, safety and the immediate release of those who have been abducted. Pray God will give authorities wisdom, willpower, provisions and favor to bring terrorists to justice, and end the violence.
- Pray Soleiman and all the 100 or so terrorists in these attacks will meet the Lord in such powerful encounters they will drop their weapons and fall to their knees in repentance, surrendering to God Almighty and receiving His free gift of salvation.
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. 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, 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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