Fatal Attacks in Sub-Saharan Africa During Christmas Week
The Week of Christmas 2024 brought with it multiple fatal attacks on Christians in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Eleven Christians were killed on Christmas Day while preparing for celebrations when armed Fulani militants attacked communities in Kwande Local Government Area, Benue state, Nigeria.
According to survivors, armed Fulani herdsman stormed several Christian communities when the individuals had returned from their Christmas church services. Many were preparing food and their homes for Christmas lunch when the attackers caught them off guard.
“Unfortunately, yesterday (Wednesday), being Christmas Day, they went to church, and after returning home from the service, families were preparing meals, and some were gathering and relaxing at spots to celebrate Christmas when a combined team of armed herdsmen and Jukum militia started attacking from five different places,” one local told Vanguard news.
“They were chasing people and shooting sporadically, and whoever they caught up with was killed. They did that till they got to Government Secondary School, Anwase.
“They killed about 10 people at Anwase in Mbaikyor Council Ward of Turan. And they also killed one person at Iyaav Council Ward… They carried out the killings in communities at the foot of the mountain. It was indeed a sad Christmas for our people.”
Most Christians in these rural communities are subsistence farmers and completely dependant on their land for survival.
The attack followed several violent incidents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where at least 21 individuals were killed between December 21-25.
Rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) carried out a series of attacks in the Lubero territory of the North Kivu province.
“From December 21 to 22, 18 civilians were killed in the village of Robinet. The rebels burned houses and took away property. By surprise, on December 25, less than four kilometers from Makele, we found three other lifeless bodies, killed by the attackers,” Samuel Kakule Kagheni, president of the local civil society, told Radio Okapi.
It is not clear if all 21 civilians that were killed are Christians, we do know that Christians are regularly the target of the ADF as they try to establish a caliphate state in central Africa. That, coupled with the timing of these attacks (Christmas week), indicates that at least some, if not all 21 victims were Christians.
Pray
Please be in prayer for the persecuted church in Nigeria, DRC, and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Pray for the Lord to be near to all those who lost family in this attack. May God’s comfort be their strength.
Pray that God will confuse all who plot to destroy and kill Christian communities. Pray that they will come to accept Jesus as their Saviour.
Pray that the church will be agents of peace and boldly proclaim the Good News amid so much fear and pain.
Pray that local government will use it’s position and power to ensure all citizens are protected and safe during this time.
