Source: www.persecution.org
Date: May 19, 2022
Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – On May 12, 2022, ISIS released a video via a news outlet of the execution of twenty Nigerian Christians in the northeast Nigerian state of Borno. The executions were perpetrated by militants belonging to the Islamic State affiliate group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram.
In the video, one of the militants explained that the executions were payment for the murders of prominent IS leaders including Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, who was killed in February by United States special forces in Syria. The militants were dressed in black garb, which covered their entire faces except for their eyes. The video’s thumbnail shows several Christians on their knees, hands behind their back, with one militant standing above them, holding what looks to be a knife.
ISWAP primarily operates in the Lake Chad region. Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group which feeds ISWAP is also active in this region. The militant groups have had conflict with each other and the head of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, was killed during fighting between these two groups in July of 2021. Shekau’s death caused some instability within Boko Haram, and some leaders have now shifted their loyalties to ISWAP. Additionally, ISWAP’s numbers have dwindled due to attacks from multi-national military forces.
The exact location of the video has not been identified and the date of its filming is also unclear. The Nigerian government has not yet responded to the video.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for peace and comfort for the families of those who were killed. Pray for an end to ISIS-led violence. Pray for this video not to spur further violence.