Hundreds Killed Amid Ongoing Violence

Nigeria is considered one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a Christian because of ongoing violence from terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani militants. Having been a problem primarily in the northern and central areas of the country, persecution has also recently begun infiltrating into the southern region. Two areas where violence has been particularly rampant are Benue State and Plateau State. Since mid-May, hundreds of innocent villagers were killed and tens of thousands displaced, mainly due to Fulani attacks.

In the Mangu area of Plateau State, more than 200 Christians lost their lives in a 48-hour killing spree that took place between May 16th and 17th. Spreading across as many as 30 villages, militants armed with assault weapons and machetes killed their fellow Nigerians indiscriminately while burning homes, churches and other buildings.

In Benue State, dozens of Christians have also been killed. On May 24th, several communities were raided, resulting in the destruction of entire villages and dozens of fatalities. Additional villages within this state were attacked on June 3rd and 4th, resulting in a total of 46 deaths.

Speaking of the recent attacks, Anglican Archbishop Ben Kwashi issued a call for prayer: "We as Christians in the Middle Belt [of] northern Nigeria are asking for concerted prayer because the devastation is beyond human ability to bear. Please also pray that the church will preach the Gospel of salvation."

In response to the ongoing bloodshed, The Voice of the Martyrs Canada is facilitating various International Ministry projects in Nigeria. One of them involves partnering with Christian Faith Ministries to establish a refuge for women and girls who have been affected by the violence. To learn more about this project, and how you can support your Nigerian family in Christ, see the video, "Update on the Construction of Mara’s House."

Pray that God's peace, comfort and strength will fill the hearts of believers in Nigeria, especially those who are mourning the loss of loved ones due to the recent attacks, as well as the many surviving victims who now must cope with the trauma they experienced. Ask the Lord to provide wisdom and guidance to Nigeria's leaders at all levels of governance, so that appropriate action can be taken to put a stop to the violence. As requested by Archbishop Kwashi, pray that the message of the Gospel would continue to spread across the nation so that many more Nigerians will receive God’s gift of eternal salvation – including the perpetrators.