President Goodluck Jonathan fired his defence minister and national security adviser, saying the government needs new tactics to counter Boko Haram. Since 2001 when Sharia Law was established in Northern Nigeria 13,750+ Christians have been killed. Since last December 300+ churches have been destroyed. Five million Christians in Northern Nigeria live under severe persecution with Islamic groups regularly issuing ultimatums to Christian communities to leave the area or die. Christians suffer attacks which are pre-planned and well-coordinated. There are many attempts to force Christians to convert to Islam under the threat of death. Many have courageously died as martyrs rather than deny Christ. However - many Muslims, both persecutors and those appalled by the behaviour of Jihadists have been won to Christ in recent years. Muslims complain that Christian Evangelism has become a big threat to them. See:

Pray: for God to show President Jonathan and Nigeria’s leaders the way forward and for many more Muslims to come to know the only way to salvation. (2 Thes. 3:1-2)

More: http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155710016/religious-violence-shakes-up-northern-nigeria

Five Christians were shot dead near Jos, Plateau State, on 29 August by Muslim gunmen, who had stopped the bus they were travelling in and separated them from the other passengers. They found out who among them were Christians and forced the five to lie down in a ditch. At this point, another Christian man became embroiled in the scene when the Islamists stopped his motorbike. He said: The gunmen asked me about my religion, and when I told them I was a Christian, they asked me to join a group of people already ordered to lie down by the side of the road. It was when the gunmen started shooting and killing those of us that were Christians grouped together that I ran into a nearby maize farm, because it was already dark. Four other Christians, including a pregnant woman, were injured in the attack.

Pray: for God’s people that they will be protected and their enemies will be held back. (Ps.68:1)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/kidnapped.nigerian.archbishop.freed/33990.htm

Violence is intensifying in Nigeria. A Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, said that although religion remains a divisive issue conflict occurs when ethnic, religious and economic boundaries coincide - as these factors are interconnected. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, (165 million people) ethnic and economic differences are widespread, (350 different ethnic groups) with agricultural careers ranging from farmers to herders. It's split nearly evenly between southern Christians and northern Muslims. There are claims and counter-claims with too many spokespeople from each religion regarding each other with disdain. Nigeria is tottering on the brink. The question is whether or not it will fall off. However, Christianity in the country is huge, vibrant and growing and intercessors need to be concerned about Boko Haram disrupting the peace of Nigeria and the possibility of civil war. Nigeria sends thousands of missionaries throughout Africa. For that to be disrupted would hinder the spread of the Gospel throughout the continent.

Pray: for God’s power to work through all agencies working towards peace, and may the Church continue to grow in power, wisdom and authority. (Pr.8:15-18)

More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/understanding-nigerias-raging-christian-muslim-conflict-65847/

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a St Finbar’s Catholic Church in Jos as worshippers were filing out after Sunday mass. Seven worshipers were killed and panic followed causing security guards to shoot and kill a further three. It was the second suicide attack on a church in Jos in two weeks, after a February 26 attack claimed by Islamist sect Boko Haram killed three and injured dozens. Jos, a faultline in Nigeria's Muslim-Christian divide between north and south, was tense in the aftermath of the bombing. There are rumours of reprisals from Christian youths, but it is hoped the security agents are on top of the situation. Eye-witness accounts said, ‘Boy scouts tried to stop the suicide bombers car' and ‘the security guards, who were mainly members of the Boys Brigade, tried to prevent the car from entering the compound and in the process the car exploded.’

Pray: against confusion in the aftermath of death, persecution and prejudice. (Am.5:14)

More: http://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-suicide-bomber-kills-three-church-attack-145431554.html

Boko Haram’s name means ‘Western education is sacrilege.’ They recently kidnapped three teachers at a school in Benin City, the fifth school attack since June. They killed 48 students and 7 teachers in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. In Yobe a school was set on fire while students aged 10-15 slept. Anyone trying to escape was shot. At Mamudo terrorists killed 22 students and a teacher. At Adanu students were lined up, stripped, made to lie face down and shot. Then the bodies were burnt. Boko Haram wants to reinstate a 19th century caliphate - believing secular schooling has brainwashed Nigerians to accept post-colonial Western order and forget Islamic ways. Consequently, Yobe schools are now closed in response to the bloodshed, teachers and students across Nigeria have withdrawn from schools remaining open and one teacher (who possibly represents many) said she was not prepared to die for teaching and is looking for a new job.

Pray: for the Lord to demolish the demonic forces that are using Boko Haram to harm innocent children, teachers and the education system throughout Nigeria. (Dan.10:13)

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/nigeria-state-closes-all-schools_n_3559417.html

Easter violence left 80 dead and 4,500 displaced. On Easter Sunday Muslim cattle herders attacked three Christian communities of the Ataka group in a remote area of Kaduna State. Authorities said fighting between Muslim cattle herders and Christian villages killed nearly 60 people in recent days. Following Sunday's violence thousands of villagers fled to the nearby hills. Local government estimated 4,500 people were displaced and two camps have been has set up to house them. Some who returned to assess the damage were also murdered according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Assailants razed several homes. Many displaced are staying in the local Primary School and in nearby villages. The latest violence came after 36+ people died and dozens of houses were burned in neighbouring Plateau State when ethnic Fulani Muslims raided Christian villages in Holy Week. The systematic manner in which these attacks now occur indicates a greater degree of organization than has previously been the case.

Pray: for the families of those who lost their lives and pray that the state governments will provide urgent assistance to the injured and displaced. (Ps.140:6-8)

More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/27519-news-alert-nigeria-easter-season-attacks-kill-80-christians-urge-prayers

About 40 people were killed in coordinated attacks on four Christian-dominated villages in the central Nigerian State of Plateau. Local sources contacted by World Watch Monitor report that the assailants, believed to be members of the Fulani tribe, came at around 2am on Tuesday morning, attacking the Berom communities in the villages of Katu Kapang, Daron, Tul and Rawuru. In a statement, Captain Salisu Mustapha, Media Officer of the government's Special Task Force (STF) in Jos, said the ‘attackers killed 13 persons in Katu Kapang, eight in Daron, nine in Tul and seven others in Rawuru. About five others were also reported to have sustained injuries’. Those killed included a one-year-old boy shot at close range, a four-year old and several women and other children, villagers told local media. The Chairman of the State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Soja Bewarang, condemned in ‘strong terms’ the ‘barbarous act’ in which pregnant women and children were killed.

Pray: that solutions will be found to stop the attacks of terrorists in Nigeria. (Dt.22:26)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/dozens.killed.in.fresh.attacks.in.central.nigeria/34862.htm

There is international condemnation of the Christmas Day bomb attacks in Nigeria that killed nearly forty. The White House said the attacks were ‘senseless violence', the British foreign secretary called them ‘cowardly.’ Islamist group Boko Haram said it carried out the attacks. A blast outside a church claimed 35 lives, a police officer died in the city of Jos and four people died in Damaturu. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said the attacks were an unwarranted affront on Nigeria’s collective safety and freedom. The White House said the attacks were ‘terrorist acts,’ and pledged to help Nigeria bring those responsible to justice. The German Foreign Minister said, ‘Even on Christmas Day, the world is not spared from cowardice and the fear of terrorism.’ Israel is sending medical aid to Nigeria and ‘condemned in the strongest terms these attacks carried out on Christmas Day.’

Pray: for Christians to be reassured and comforted, and pray that God will work through the international community and the Nigerian government to prevent further violence. (Ps.23:5-6)

More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11120116.htm