At least 113 people have been killed in a co-ordinated attack on several majority-Christian villages in Nigeria over Christmas. Please pray for all affected.  

In the UK and Ireland, the run up to Christmas is an exciting and joyful time. But in many parts of the world, Christians fear that Christmas brings exposure and fresh dangers. Sadly, this was the case this Christmas in Nigeria. A series of attacks began in Christian-majority villages across Plateau State which killed at least 113 people. The attacks began shortly before Christmas and continued into the early hours of Christmas Day. 

Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State, stated that more than 300 people were injured in the attacks that targeted at least 20 communities across the region. The video below shows the aftermath of the attacks – people queuing for food, burned-out homes and people in vans fleeing the region. 

‘WE NEED TO PRAY FERVENTLY’

Jo Newhouse, spokesperson for Open Doors operations in sub-Saharan Africa, said:

“It’s tragic that many fellow Christians who were looking forward to a peaceful Christmas celebration with loved ones and their local congregations found themselves brutalised once again,” she continued. “Those who managed to escape the carnage with their lives are now uprooted, traumatised and in mourning. We need to pray fervently for our family to experience the Lord’s abundant grace in the midst of these circumstances.” 

Nigeria is currently number six on the Open Doors World Watch List. More Christians are killed in Nigeria for their faith than all the other countries of the world combined – and the violence from Islamic extremist groups is increasing. While in the past the violence has largely been prevalent in the north of the country, it’s starting to spread south. Please join with the church in Nigeria as we pray for the peace, presence and healing of Jesus to comfort all those impacted by these attacks.