Every year, hundreds of people are killed in violent events throughout Nigeria. This has been true since Boko Haram became one of the deadliest groups in the world in 2014 and 2015. Despite the government continuing to fight against Boko Haram, the terrorist group, as well as Fulani militants, bandits, and other violent groups, have been able to cause mass devastation throughout the country.
More than 1,900 civilians and government personnel were killed by Boko Haram and Fulani militants. This number does not include the hundreds of militants killed or the hundreds of civilians killed by unidentified bandit groups.
Nearly all Christians in north-eastern Nigeria have lost family members in attacks by Boko Haram or Islamic Fulani militants. Entire congregations have been displaced, and many pastors have been forced to leave the region.
Boko Haram and Fulani militants often target Christian majority communities for attack, and this was again true in 2020. Boko Haram on numerous occasions attacked the villages around Chibok which are mainly Christian, as well as multiple villages throughout Adamawa state including Garkida, also predominately Christian.
Fulani militants in Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, and Adamawa States also attacked majority Christian farming communities on a regular basis. This group claimed the lives of more civilians and Christians than Boko Haram did in 2020.
Sources: International Christian Concern, The Voice of the Martyrs USA
- Ask God to give state and national authorities wisdom and firm resolve to end the violence, protect vulnerable communities and care for the displaced.
- Pray for the perpetrators. Ask God to frustrate their plans for evil and be at work to bring many to conviction, repentance and salvation.
- Pray that during the midst of great suffering, the Lord will bring blessing to those who have suffered so much.
Post your prayer in the comments below.
Our Gracious and Loving Father, we cry out to You for Your beloved people in Nigeria.
Please grant the Nigerian authorities the wisdom to know what action to take, the resources to do the work and the determination to persevere with bringing an end to the violence that infects their nation. Please help them Lord, to do all they can to keep people safe and to take care of those who have been forced to abandon their homes.
Bless our Nigerian brothers and sisters, who are suffering so much. Restore to them we pray, the things they need to live each day. Bring an other worldy peace to their souls in the midst of their earthly suffering and reassure them they are being lifted in prayer to You by their Christian family across the globe. May they take comfort in Your Word …
“… let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” (Psalm 5:11)… especially in the midst of their great pain and suffering.
Thwart the evil plans of those who persecute Your children. Instead, convict each one of them of their sin, bring them to a place of genuine repentance and nurture in them a deep faith and love of Christ.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.
Amen and amen and to God be the Glory! Thank you Renee for helpful, heart felt and urgent praying grounded in the word of God for all involved.
Pray that the orders to attack will cease. Pray persecutors will see humanity first.
Almighty Father, we read about you in Isaiah 40 ‘Vs14 Who taught him the path of justice…? 15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust…17 All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.’ We praise you as the King over all who is full of compassion and steadfast love. Our hearts mourn for those in Nigeria suffering violence and injustice and we ask for your Spirit to fill your children with its fruit and help them to persevere in the faith. If there is a desire by Christians for revenge help them to remember that you have commanded: ‘Do not be overcome by evil. But overcome evil with good.’ Romans 12:21 We pray for President Muhammadu Buhari that he might be a just leader concerned for people and truth before personal popularity, power and success. We pray for the perpetrators and parliaments, government officials and all Nigerians that you might pour out your Spirit on them that they might become followers of Christ.