Nigeria: Palm Sunday Attack Kills 43
An attack from extremist militants on Palm Sunday killed at least 43 members of a Christian community in Nigeria.
Open Doors contacts in Nigeria confirmed on Monday that an attack by militants took place in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) killing at least 43 people.
It was a Christian community in the Bassa Local Government Area that was attacked on Sunday night. A local contact in the area shares that “43 people were killed, several houses were burnt down with people inside.”
Other local news sources suggest numbers even higher.
Recently this area of Nigeria has repeatedly suffered attacks at the hands of the militants. Not only do these attacks leave Christian families traumatized and broken, but thousands have lost their homes and are displaced as a result.
“Our people are living in fear. Children no longer go to school, even worship in churches you can’t do it, because you are running for your life,” Titus Ayuba Alams, special adviser to the Governor on workers welfare and cooperate affairs and recently told local Open Doors partners.
“We urgently call on the local and national government of Nigeria to secure these areas and protect vulnerable communities,” says Jo Newhouse, spokesperson for Open Doors’ work in Sub-Saharan Africa. “Christian communities are observing Holy Week in the run-up to Easter weekend, and would want to attend church and spend this time with their families observing the death and resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
Nigeria at a glance
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Persecution Type
- Islamic oppression (Very strong)
- Ethno-religious hostility (Very strong)
- Religious Nationalism (Very strong)
- Dictatorial paranoia (Very strong)
- Organized corruption and crime (Very strong)
Christian population
106,608,000
Main Religion
President Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu
Pray
Pray that God will stop these attacks.
Pray for God’s Spirit to be a comfort and bring healing to all those that have been affacted.
Pray that the government of Nigeria will ensure that all communities are protected.
Pray for the militants who are responsible for these attacks – that they will turn away from what they are doing, see Christ in His glory and repent of their wickedness.
Pray that church leaders and Christians will be agents of peace and dialogue in this turbulent time.
Watch this story for updates as they come.
