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Nigeria

• 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.

• Local Elections Result in Anti-Christian Violence

  Danyaro Bala Photo fromCompass Direct

  Local elections in the Sumaila area of Nigeria turned violent on November 17 after news reports showed a Christian candidate ahead in the polls, signifying the first ever victory for a Christian in the area. In reaction to these results, local Muslims turned on a Christian community in Gani, destroying houses and shops. According to a November 26 report from Compass Direct, several Christians were injured in the attack and a school teacher, Danyaro Bala, was killed. The military was eventually called in to restore order.

  Danyaro's brother believes the attack was clearly an attempt to force Christians to submit to Islam. He told Compass, "The selection of only houses of Christians and their shops for destruction shows clearly that Muslims were out to force us into submitting to their hold on political leadership."

  Danyaro is survived by a wife and eleven children. He was an elder and key leader in his local church.

  Pray for Danyaro's wife and children as they grieve this tragic loss. Pray for peace in the area.

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

  Watch for a new 60-minute video documentary on Nigeria available from The Voice of the Martyrs in mid-December, entitled "The Remains of the Day."

• Two Christians Killed in Northern Nigeria

  Henry Emmanuel Ogbaje Photo fromCompass Direct

  Two young Christian men were recently killed by Muslims militants in the area of Gamji Gate, Kaduna state, according to an October 22 report from Compass Direct. On the evening of October 12, militants bludgeoned Henry Emmanuel Ogbaje with wooden clubs while he was on his way home from his church. A few hours later, he died from his injuries.

  The following day, a young man identified only as "Basil" from the Our Lady of Apostles Catholic Church was stabbed to death.

  Local Christians believe these two murders are part of a systematic effort by Muslims to wipe out Christianity from northern Nigeria. Although the government has been attempting to establish an inter-faith dialogue between the two faith groups, their efforts have failed to diminish the wave of violent attacks on Christians.

  Pray for those who mourn for the loss of these two faithful followers of Christ. Pray that the Lord will be exalted through this tragedy and that people in this area will continue to be drawn to Him (Phil 1:20). Pray that violence against Nigerian Christians will cease.

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

• Several Christians Killed in Muslim Riots

  At least nine Christians were killed by Muslims in a series of violent attacks in the Tundun Wada region of Kano State, northern Nigeria on the weekend of September 28-29. According to an October 2 report from Christian Solitary Worldwide, local Muslims also burned churches and destroyed believers' homes and businesses. Although the exact cause for the rampage is not yet known, the violence reportedly began on Saturday morning when a group of Muslim students barged into a room shared by two Christian students at the local Government Secondary School and attacked the believers. When the school principal arrived on the scene, the Muslims claimed that these two had drawn a picture of Mohammed on a mosque wall and were planning an attack on Muslim students.

  Authorities have removed all corpses in a likely attempt to obscure the true death toll. Local police have also sealed off the area and denied access to those seeking to provide assistance. Three pastors from the state capital were detained when they tried to evacuate members of their denomination. Three Christian members of the Nigerian Air Force who were accompanying them were also detained. The pastors have since been released on bail. The other three remain in custody.

  Pray that Christians will rely on the Holy Spirit to comfort, strengthen and embolden them in the aftermath of this brutal attack. Pray that those who have lost loved ones will find peace in the fact that those who suffer with Christ will be glorified with Him (Romans 8:15-17). Pray that the three detained believers will be released.

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

  This month's Persecution Report video report includes a feature on the persecution facing Nigerian believers. Go to our home page to view the report.

• Church Set on Fire by Muslims in Northern Nigeria

  Muslim militants set fire to a church building in Gombe, Nigeria on March 23, just two days after a local Christian teacher was killed by a mob of Muslims students. According to a March 29 report from Compass Direct, the Muslims entered the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) church at approximately 11:00 p.m. and started the fire, which gutted the sanctuary. The 500 church members must now conduct their worship services and church programs out in the open. Security reports indicate that fifteen more churches in the area have been targeted for similar attacks.

  Pray that these believers will be able to rejoice in their loss as they look forward to their eternal possessions (Hebrews 10:36-37). Pray that attacks on Christians in this area will cease. Pray that Nigerian Christians will be encouraged to continue to meet together despite opposition (Hebrews 10:23).

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