Nigeria (MNN) — Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed at least 18 Christians in northern Nigeria last week.
First, militants attacked five predominantly Christian villages in eastern Nigeria, killing ten believers as they returned home from farm work. In a separate assault, one leader lost his life when armed bandits kidnapped more than 100 people, including 72 believers.
Finally, two attacks on Thursday resulted in seven Christian deaths and multiple injuries.
Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith last year; 90 percent of the 5,500 Christians killed in 2022 were Nigerian. Nearly all Christians in northeast Nigeria have lost family members to terrorist violence.
(Graphic courtesy of VOM Canada)
Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s Greg Musselman says, “Persecution against Christians is not only happening in the north, but in the central part of the country, and even heading south.”
Only God’s Word offers the hope that can comfort traumatized souls. During a recent visit, Musselman taught Nigerian pastors and Bible students how to endure persecution through Scripture.
“One of the desires of Richard Wurmbrand, who started The Voice of the Martyrs, is to teach the theology of persecution, one of the main themes in the Bible,” Musselman says.
Christian leaders left the four-day conference edified and refreshed by new connections.
“They asked me if I would come back so they could expand the teaching and have representation from churches all over northern Nigeria,” Musselman says.
“It was a time to unlock the Scriptures and what it (the Bible) teaches about persecution and encourage these brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Being active in the Nigerian church looks much different today than 15 years ago. Pray for wisdom, courage, and strength as these Christian leaders shepherd their congregations.
“The idea is that they will take the teaching and teach it to their people [and] help them to see that the Scriptures teach a lot about suffering for righteousness,” Musselman says.
“Within their churches, they have been exposed to pretty intense persecution. [In some cases,] they have lost members of their own family.”
Header and story images courtesy of VOM Canada.
