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NIGERIA: JOS AND MAIDUGURI SEE CHRISTMAS TERROR

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By Elizabeth Kendal

Islamic militants sent a loud and clear message on Christmas Eve when they
unleashed terror on Christians celebrating Christmas in Jos and Maiduguri.
Jos, the capital of Plateau State in Nigeria’s ‘Middle Belt’, sits atop
Africa’s increasingly volatile ethnic-religious fault-line (see
http://elizabethkendal. blogspot.com/2010/03/nigeria-why-is-jos-such-
tinderbox.html ). Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State (north-east
Nigeria), is the base of the al-Qaeda-linked Boko Haram (see ‘Nigeria: al-
Qaeda supports Boko Haram expansion’ RLPB 079, 27 Oct 2010
http://www.ea.org.au/ea-family/Religious-Liberty/October-2010-Prayer-
Update.aspx ).

On Christmas Eve bombs exploded virtually simultaneously at 7.35pm in two
Christian neighbourhoods in Jos, hitting shopping precincts, bars and the
Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The terror attack left 38 dead and over 100
wounded, 74 of whom were hospitalised. A previously unknown jihadist
group, Jama’atu ahlus-Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, has claimed
responsibility. Jos subsequently erupted into cyclic retaliatory sectarian
violence. Special Task Force soldiers patrolling the Nassarawa Gwom area
of Jos averted disaster when they interrupted a group of militants
planting bombs outside the First Baptist Church. By late Sunday evening
dozens more were dead and wounded, taking the death toll to around 80 with
about 120 hospitalised. Some 20 houses were burnt and two mosques and a
church vandalised.

Also on Christmas Eve two churches were attacked almost simultaneously in
Maiduguri by militants belonging to the al-Qaeda-linked Boko Haram
Islamist sect. According to Rev. Haskanda Jessu, three militants armed
with guns and petrol bombs attacked his Sinimari Church of Christ in
Nigeria, riddling the walls with bullet holes and killing the security
guard. About the same time some 30 jihadists descended on Victory Baptist
Church on the other side of the city in Alamderi. Shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’,
they dragged out and executed Rev. Bulus Marwa (37) and shot dead
Christopher Balami (50), Philip Luka (22), Paul Mathew (21) and Yohanna
Adamu (26). Twenty-five other worshippers were wounded as the jihadists
razed the church to the ground.

* PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD will draw the Nigerian Church (north and south) to
him in humble, dependent prayer for comfort, peace, justice, security and
efficacy in advocacy and mission. May he hear and answer their prayers and
increase their faith. ‘He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of
your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.’ (Isaiah 30:19b ESV)

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 088 | Wed 29 Dec 2010

NIGERIA: JOS AND MAIDUGURI SEE CHRISTMAS TERROR

By Elizabeth Kendal

Islamic militants sent a loud and clear message on Christmas Eve when they
unleashed terror on Christians celebrating Christmas in Jos and Maiduguri.
Jos, the capital of Plateau State in Nigeria’s ‘Middle Belt’, sits atop
Africa’s increasingly volatile ethnic-religious fault-line (see http://elizabethkendal. blogspot.com/2010/03/nigeria-why-is-jos-such-tinderbox.html ). Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State (north-east Nigeria), is the ba
se of the al-Qaeda- linked Boko Haram (see ‘Nigeria: al-Qaeda supports Boko Haram expansion’ RLPB 079, 27 Oct 2010 http://www.ea.org.au/ea-family/Religious-Liberty/October-2010- Prayer-Update.aspx ).

On Christmas Eve bombs exploded virtually simultaneously at 7.35pm in two
Christian neighbourhoods in Jos, hitting shopping precincts, bars and the
Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The terror attack left 38 dead and over 100
wounded, 74 of whom were hospitalised. A previously unknown jihadist
group, Jama’atu ahlus-Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, has claimed
responsibility. Jos subsequently erupted into cyclic retaliatory sectarian
violence. Special Task Force soldiers patrolling the Nassarawa Gwom area
of Jos averted disaster when they interrupted a group of militants
planting bombs outside the First Baptist Church. By late Sunday evening
dozens more were dead and wounded, taking the death toll to around 80 with
about 120 hospitalised. Some 20 houses were burnt and two mosques and a
church vandalised.

Also on Christmas Eve two churches were attacked almost simultaneously in
Maiduguri by militants belonging to the al-Qaeda-linked Boko Haram
Islamist sect. According to Rev. Haskanda Jessu, three militants armed
with guns and petrol bombs attacked his Sinimari Church of Christ in
Nigeria, riddling the walls with bullet holes and killing the security
guard. About the same time some 30 jihadists descended on Victory Baptist
Church on the other side of the city in Alamderi. Shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’,
they dragged out and executed Rev. Bulus Marwa (37) and shot dead
Christopher Balami (50), Philip Luka (22), Paul Mathew (21) and Yohanna
Adamu (26). Twenty-five other worshippers were wounded as the jihadists
razed the church to the ground.

* PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD will draw the Nigerian Church (north and south) to
him in humble, dependent prayer for comfort, peace, justice, security and
efficacy in advocacy and mission. May he hear and answer their prayers and
increase their faith. ‘He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of
your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.’ (Isaiah 30:19b ESV)

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

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NIGERIA: JOS AND MAIDUGURI SEE CHRISTMAS TERROR

On Christmas Eve Islamic militants unleashed terror attacks against
Christians in Jos (Plateau State, ‘Middle Belt’) and Maiduguri (Borno
State, north-east Nigeria). By Sunday evening around 80 were dead and some
120 hospitalised in Jos, the victims of a series of Christmas Eve bombings
in Christian districts and ensuing cyclic retaliatory violence. Also on
Christmas Eve al-Qaeda-linked Boko Haram militants attacked two churches
in Maiduguri, killing six and wounding 25. Rev. Bulus Marwa (37) of
Victory Baptist Church was dragged out and executed. Three of the church
members shot dead were Christian men in their early 20s. Please pray that
God will draw the Nigerian Church (north and south) to him in humble,
dependent prayer for comfort, peace, justice, security and efficacy in
advocacy and mission.

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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ .

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious
Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international
religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.
Previous bulletins may be viewed at .