The Christians of Nigeria are experiencing a crucifixion. Please pray that our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ would grant them mercy and relief, the comfort of His presence, and ultimately affect the resurrection of Nigeria’s Christian community, including the nation’s Orthodox Christians. Pray that the families of these victims would be comforted, and that their homes would be restored and protected. The Order urgently requests the Nigerian government to take all necessary steps to rein in the groups that are preying upon Christians, and to end the persecution of the Christians of Nigeria.
“Muslim Extremists Murder Over 30 Nigerian Christians In Devastating Attack,” by Jacob Airey, Daily Wire, March 1, 2019:
Over 30 Nigerian Christians were killed in a brutal early morning attack by radical Islamic Fulani herdsmen, who have been systematically targeting believers living on lands the extremists claim to be their territory.
The Guardian reports that the deadly assault occurred at around 4 a.m. near the town of Maro, in Kajuru County of Kaduna state, where the attackers set fire to several buildings, including homes and churches. The extremists shot civilians with rifles as they fled the burning establishments.
A member of local church Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) told Morning Star News that members “ran out of the church building as the shooting was going on.” She added, “Many have been killed, and I have not seen my family members since morning. I have escaped out of the area.”
Some villagers and local policemen tried to resist the radical Muslim assault but were forced to retreat as the attackers overwhelmed them by sheer numbers and firepower.
Kaduna’s local state government condemned the attack in a statement from Samuel Aruwan, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor.
“Today, the Kaduna State government was briefed by security agencies of renewed attacks in Kajuru Local Government Area, and in parts of neighboring Kachia Local Government Area,” he said. “The state government has been assured that the security agencies are working assiduously to contain the situation. The government is saddened by these attacks, condemns the perpetrators and urges all residents of the area to support the security agencies in their efforts to protect communities.”
The violence was so severe that a nearby boarding school administered by the Evangelical Missionary Society (EMS) evacuated to protect the children….
