Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: February 17, 2024
Today we are praying Psalm 33:20 over Nigeria:
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Since 2015, Nigeria has witnessed a spike in violence by several armed factions – including a Fulani militia* – that has largely gone unchecked. Insecurity is now rampant throughout the nation.
During his inauguration last year, President Bola Tinubu vowed to address insecurity. However, according to a report by Nigerian civil society groups, in his first eight months in office, at least 2,423 people were killed in mass atrocity-related incidents and at least 1,872 were abducted.
There were also at least 230 incidents of abduction for ransom within the first two weeks of 2024 – most of which involved multiple victims.
Even the Federal Capital, Abuja, is no longer immune to this phenomenon. Fulani kidnappers inhabiting forests surrounding Abuja are attacking neighbourhoods, breaking into homes and – in some instances – kidnapping entire families, including Muslims who are not from their ethnic group.
And the government is well aware of the situation. The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas, lamented that it was ‘quite unfortunate that most of our forests have been taken over by bandits, kidnappers and other terrorists that have been unleashing mayhem on innocent Nigerians.’
Please pray:
- That the Nigerian authorities will begin to work intensely and strategically to contain the crisis of violence.
- That God would help and shield Christians and all civilians from all attacks, abductions and violence. Pray especially for the protection of Christian clergy, who are increasingly being targeted for abduction for ransom.
- For miraculous changes of heart for the perpetrators of such atrocities; the Fulani militia, as well as other terrorist groups like ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) and Boko Haram.
Please also remember Leah Sharibu in your prayers. Monday 19 February marks six years since Leah was abducted by ISWAP terrorists at just 14 years old. Leah was the sole Christian among 110 girls who were taken from their school in Dapchi, north-east Nigeria. All her surviving classmates were returned to their families one month later, following government negotiations, but Leah was not among them. She had refused to renounce her faith in exchange for her freedom.
We pray:
- For Leah’s unconditional release, and for the Holy Spirit to strengthen and encourage her today.
- For comfort and hope for her parents and brother, who long for her safe return.
- That the world will not forget Leah Sharibu, but will continue to pray – and demand justice and freedom – for Leah and for every other victim of abduction in Nigeria.
*The Fulani militia is an armed group consisting of men from this predominantly Muslim tribe. It has launched deadly attacks on Christian villages across central Nigeria since 2010, which are now occurring in the south. In 2014 the militia was named the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world by the Global Terrorism Index.