For information about Orthodox Christianity in Nigeria, see here.
For previous coverage of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria from ChristianPersecution.com, see here.
“Gunmen kidnap more than a hundred Christians in raid on Nigerian church,” by Simon Caldwell, Catholic Herald, November 5, 2021:
Gunmen have stormed a church in Nigeria, shooting dead one of the worshippers and kidnapping more than a hundred others.
The raid in Kaduna State in the centre of the country also left two Christians critically ill in hospital, according to initial reports.
The attackers swept into the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Kakau Daji when telecom networks were down, meaning that no-one could contact the authorities for help.
The kidnappers are demanding a ransom for the release of the Christians.
The family of one victim said the kidnappers told them that they had to pay more because the gunmen had to go the extra mile for network service before they were able to contact the families of their victims.
Jo Newhouse, Open Doors Sub Saharan Africa spokesperson, said that insecurity in the region is “creating an ideal breeding ground for extremism”.
She said: “This kidnapping is a shocking example of the audacity of the so-called bandits and the impunity that is escalating, seemingly without bounds in Nigeria.
“The government is grossly failing its citizens in this matter and the continuing lawlessness is creating an ideal breeding ground for extremism.
“We call on the international Body of Christ to remain in fervent prayer for the release of the church members and that the Lord will use this situation to bring a breakthrough in this situation.
“Pray for the Lord’s protection over these believers and that they will experience His peace in the midst of the situation.”
Rev. Joseph Haya of the Christian Association of Nigeria Kaduna branch told Politics Nigeria, a national newspaper, that the security situation in the Kaduna State was getting worse in spite of government assurances to the contrary.
“We are seriously worried now,” he said. “Gunmen are gradually approaching the township.”…
Some attacks on Christians in the north of the country are carried out by a minority of Fulani herdsmen, an ethnic group of 20 million Muslims….
The United Nations has estimated that since 2011 Boko Haram has killed more than 15,200 Nigerians, and forced 1.7 million others from their homes as it has sought to turn Nigeria into an Islamic nation ruled by Sharia law….
