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Nigeria

• Christians killed, property destroyed in Bauchi At least 11 people were killed, over 1,500 displaced, and dozens of homes and churches burned during a weekend of violence in Bauchi state, Nigeria, according to a February 23 report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide. When a mosque was set on fire in the early hours of February 21, Muslims blamed Christians and began attacking believers and destroying their property. However, local Christians believe the mosque's destruction was the work of Muslim militants seeking a pretext to attack Christians in retaliation for the loss of Muslim lives in Jos (read the story). According to local sources, some of the displaced believers have taken shelter in military barracks and are without sufficient food and water. Although a curfew was imposed in the area, attacks continued for several days and believers fear further violence.

  Pray for lasting peace in Nigeria. Pray for healing for those injured and provision for those displaced. Pray that believers will be Christ-like in how they interact with their Muslim neighbours.

  To find out more about how Christians are persecuted in Nigeria, go to theNigeria Country Report.

• Update: Hundreds dead, thousands displaced after violence

  Joseph Yari, one of those killed in the attacks Photo fromCompass Direct

  The Christian community in Jos, Nigeria is still reeling from riots that broke out on November 28-29 following local elections (click here for more information). According to a December 11 report from Compass Direct, six pastors were murdered, at least 500 other people killed, and 40 church buildings were destroyed in the sweeping violence. More than 25,000 people have been displaced from their homes and are taking refuge at military and police barracks. Authorities have detained approximately 500 people in connection with the violence. According to a church leader in Jos, the attacks were "not political but pre-meditated under the guise of elections."

  For more updates on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,click here.

• Christians attacked by Muslims

  Anti-Christian violence erupted in the central Nigerian city of Jos on November 28 following a local election. Sixteen church buildings were ravaged by Muslim mobs, thousands of Christians fled from their homes, and sources estimate that hundreds were killed. Although initial reports blamed the local governmental elections as the catalyst for the violence, Christian groups in Nigeria maintain that the voting process was peaceful and that the attacks occurred before the results were even announced. Other news reports have also suggested that Christians were responsible for the deaths of 300 Muslims; however, local security sources insist that the Muslims were shot by authorities when they defied the imposed curfew and launched fresh attacks. Some sources suspect that the violence may have been planned in advance since the majority of the 500 arrested Muslims have told police that they arrived in Jos three days prior to the attacks from neighbouring Niger or from northern Nigerian states. Some of the arrested were also wearing fake police and military uniforms.

  Ask God to bring peace to the unstable Nigerian regions where Christians are targeted. Pray that any Christians who retaliated violently will repent and seek to walk Christ's path of discipleship.

  Learn more about how Christians are persecuted in Nigeria at theNigeria Country Report. To see our blog on this situation, click here.

• Church buildings destroyed in northern Nigeria
  Two church buildings were destroyed within days of each other in the northern Nigerian town of Yelwa, Bauchi state, according to a November 20 report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide. On November 16, the foundation of the Church of Christ building was dismantled by local Muslims. Although authorities subsequently placed a guard at the premises, another church building only two kilometres away was burned to the ground on November 18.

  Pray that Nigerian Christians in Yelwa will continue to worship together despite opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25). Ask God to move in the lives of those who persecute believers in northern Nigeria.

  Learn more about Nigeria's suffering Christians from theNigeria Country Report.

• Church burned down by Muslims in Kwara

  The Christ Apostolic Church Photo fromCompass Direct

  Muslim militants burned down a Christ Apostolic Church building on August 31 in the capital city of Baboko, Kwara state complaining that it was too close to a mosque, according to a September 2 report from Compass Direct. At the time of the attack, the Christians were worshipping together at another location because of a relocation order issued by the government in response to complaints. The church building, which is 500 metres from the local mosque, was previously attacked by militants on June 16 when Muslims broke into the sanctuary and destroyed property.

  Pray that these believers will stand firm and grow in faith as they face opposition. Pray that the passion of God's people in Nigeria will be a light that draws others to Christ.

  To learn more about how Christians are persecuted in Nigeria, go to theNigeria Country Report.

• Government Authorities Demolish Church in Kano State

  State Environmental Protection Agency (KASEPA) employees along with police officers demolished a Catholic church in Naibawa, Kano state on the morning of June 19, according to a June 20 report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide. According to local sources, Christ the King Church had received an official letter in early June ordering them to vacate their property. Church officials had subsequently written a letter of appeal to local authorities and were awaiting a response when KAPESA workers and police officers turned up unexpectedly. Musical instruments and other objects were stolen, the building was bulldozed and the remaining property was set on fire.

  Pray for the continued ministry of church fellowships in Kano, despite the opposition they face. Pray that, in the face of their property loss, they will know that they have "better and lasting possessions"
  (Hebrews 10:36, 37).

  For more information on persecution in Nigeria, go to theNigeria Country Report.

• Teenage Girls Kidnapped By Muslims; Rescue Incites Rampage

  Photos fromCompass Direct

  On May 12, the police rescued two Christian girls, Mary Chikwodi Okoye (15) and Uche Edward (14), who were kidnapped by Muslim militants three weeks ago in the town of Ningi, Bauchi state, according to a May 19 report from Compass Direct. The kidnappers initially took the girls to the house of a Muslim leader in the town of Wudil. Okoye's foster father and a group of believers heard where the girls were being held. When they arrived at the home, however, the girls had been relocated to the residence of a Muslim leader in Ningi. When the team went to this home they were told by the leader that the girls had converted to Islam and could not be released. The police then stepped in and evacuated the girls to eastern Nigeria where they were reunited with their biological parents.

  The following day, Muslims associated with a paramilitary arm of Kano state's Sharia Commission went on a rampage, attacking Christians and setting fire to local churches, in protest of the girls' release. Six church buildings -- the Deeper Life Bible Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, All Souls Anglican Church, Church of Christ in Nigeria, Redeemed Christian Church of God, and the Redeemed Peoples Mission -- were destroyed in the attack. The Muslims also attacked shops belonging to Okoye's foster father, looting and destroying goods worth over 50 million naira ($430,360 CAD).

  Thank the Lord that Mary and Uche were safely released. Ask God to strengthen those affected by the mob attack to remain steadfast as they suffer (Revelation 2:10). Pray that young Christian girls in Nigeria who have been kidnapped by Muslims will remain strong in faith and be freed.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, go to theNigeria Country Report.

  Go to www.vomcanada.com for a preview of VOMC's new DVD, "Nigerian Voices: Testimonies of the Persecuted."

• Spurned Love Sparks Violence

  Designated photo from Compass Direct

  Five church buildings were destroyed, several people injured, and the homes of a number of Christians burned in violence in Yana, Bauchi state, Nigeria on February 2, according to a February 12 report from Compass Direct. On the evening of February 1, Patience Yusuf met with an unidentified Muslim man outside her home upon his request. The man told her that he wanted to befriend and marry her but Yusuf refused him. The man begged her "in the name of God and his apostle, Muhammad," to become his girlfriend. Yusuf again refused, saying: "You are pleading in the name of a person I do not know. Jesus I know, but Muhammad I do not know." The man left and later that night told friends and neighbours that Yusuf had blasphemed against Muhammad.

  The next morning, he led a group of Muslims to Yusuf's house to confront her. She escaped to the local police station for protection but the mob followed her and demanded that she be killed for her alleged crime in accordance with Islamic law. When the police refused to give her up, the Muslims attacked the officers and burned down the station. Shortly afterwards, hundreds of armed Muslims rioted in the streets, attacking and injuring several Christians. Buildings belonging to the Evangelical Church of West Africa, the Church of Nigeria, the Apostolic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Church of Christ in Nigeria were destroyed. Approximately 1,000 people were reportedly displaced in the violence.

  Pray that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable and that justice will be fairly administered. Pray for those who must now rebuild their churches and homes in the wake of the violence. Pray that Christians in Yana, Nigeria will find strength in the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, go to theNigeria Country Report.

• Ten Killed, Churches and Homes Burned in Muslim Riots in Northern Nigeria

  Elim Church Photo fromCompass Direct

  Ten people were killed, several Christians seriously injured, and Christian churches, businesses and homes burned when Muslims went on a rampage in the Yelwa Tudu area in Bauchi state on December 11, according to a December 13 report from Compass Direct. The violence occurred after unidentified people pulled out two blocks from the foundation of the mosque under construction at the Baba Tanko Secondary School in Kagadama shortly after construction began on the building on December 2. The Muslim students believed that Christians had done the damage and threatened to attack local believers. Although the school principal and staff thought that they had diffused the tension, nine days later Muslim students stormed out of a classroom and converged at the mosque site chanting "Allahu Akbar." They then began to attack Christians with knives and daggers. The violence eventually escalated into a town-wide riot. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Assemblies of God Church and the Elim Church were set ablaze and sustained fire damage. At least a dozen Christianhomes were destroyed in the attack.

  At last report, only one of those killed has been identified, a Christian known only by his surname, "Bogoro." The identities of the other nine have been kept secret by the government and their bodies were given a swift burial in a common grave.

  Pray that the Lord will fill Christians with His peace and strength as they recover from this brutal attack. Ask God to comfort those who have lost loved ones. Pray that Christ will be exalted through this tragedy and that people in this area will continue to be drawn to Him (Phil. 1:20).

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Nigeria, go to theNigeria Country Report.

• Churches in Northern Nigeria to Be Demolished The Kano state government has decided to demolish four church buildings, without discussion or compensation, to make way for roads and a hospital, according to a November 30 report from Compass Direct. Rev. Murtala, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, sees the road and hospital construction as merely a guise for demolishing the buildings. For the Church leaders in Kano, this action is a continuation of the onslaught they have faced since the government implemented sharia law in the state. The two Pentecostal churches and the two Evangelical Fellowship of West Africa churches

  Pastor Yahaya Ibrahim Photo fromCompass Direct

  are all located in the Badawa area of Kano.

  Persecution of Christians is prevalent in Kano state. Last year, the only church building in the town of Rogo, Kano was destroyed by authorities. Pastor Yahaya Ibrahim told Compass Direct there are 13,000 Christians in the Rogo area, but the government denies them any land to build church buildings. There is also significant pressure against Christian children. "Our children cannot be admitted into government-owned schools unless they change their names to Muslim names," Ibrahim said."There are times children of Christians are forced to convert into Islam."

  Pray for the continued ministry of church fellowships in Kano, despite the opposition they face. Pray that Christians will be able to continue to meet together, despite the lack of buildings.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, go to theNigeria Country Report.

  The Voice of the Martyrs has just released a new 60-minute DVD report on Nigeria. Go to our online catalogue to order a copy today.