NIGERIA – Extremist violence targets Christians in Borno

A very interesting post from www.RealeaseInternational.org about Muslim murders in Nigeria. This follows this post about an additional man of interest in the Boston Marathon bombing. This follows this article about American energy independence and preventing money from going to hostile countries such as Iran . For more about what is happening in the nation now click here and you can read two very interesting books HERE.

NIGERIA – Extremist violence targets Christians in Borno




Release partners are reporting targeted violence against Christians in the northern state of Borno this weekend.



Stefanos Foundation says that gunmen pulled over a bus near Maiduguri on Saturday, demanded passengers declare their faith and then killed the six people who said they were Christian.



Meanwhile, in Gwoza, also in Borno state, Islamists are reported to have embarked upon an 'Islamisation campaign'. Stefanos reports that gunmen are going from door to door demanding people profess allegiance to Islam at gunpoint.



This weekend's violence followed intense fighting on Friday in the far north of Borno between the military and Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram. The BBC says that at least 185 people have reportedly died in violence centred on the remote town of Baga, near the border with Chad. Up to 2,000 homes were destroyed. Boko Haram wants to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.



(Sources: BBC, Stefanos Foundation)



For more news and a country profile about Nigeria, click here



• Pray for God's peace for Christians in Borno and other states in northern Nigeria where believers are targeted. Pray that they will draw near to God, their 'mighty rock and refuge' (Psalm 62:7).

• Pray for a breakthrough in military and political efforts to curb extremist violence in Nigeria, which has claimed thousands of lives since 2009.





NEWS UPDATE:

Pakistani Christian Sawan Masih was due to appear in court today in Lahore, to hear charges against him read out at the start of his blasphemy trial. The roadsweeper from Lahore was charged following accusations against him which reportedly prompted widespread rioting in Joseph colony, Lahore, last month (Prayer Alert, March 11). Please pray for protection and justice for Sawan, and for protection and wisdom for those who are supporting him. (Source: Release partners)