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 the Nigeria Country Report. To see our blog on this situation, click here.
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