NIGERIA: HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN ABDUCTED

Dozens of women and children living in a camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in north east Nigeria are feared to have been abducted by Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.   

Reports suggest that up to 200 people could have been taken by insurgents from Gamboru Ngala, a small town in Borno State, when they were going to collect firewood.

Open Doors spokesperson for the region, Jo Newhouse*, says, “We are horrified at this latest mass abduction of mostly women and children by Boko Haram in Nigeria and call for their immediate release.

“For many of us this will be a reminder of when 276 mostly Christian female students aged from 16 to 18 were kidnapped by the Islamist terrorist group from their secondary school in Chibok – which was also from Borno State – in April 2014.” 

More than 100 of the Chibok girls – now women – remain in captivity as of today. The families of the hostages hardly ever receive updates on the government’s efforts to release them.   

Image: Women cooking in an IDP camp in Northern Nigeria

ATTACKS AND KIDNAPPINGS HAVE WORSENED 

“These are not isolated abductions,” Jo continues. “Attacks and kidnappings – particularly in the north of Nigeria – have seriously worsened over the last decade. Christians are among those who are especially targeted.  

“The Nigerian government is failing to discharge its duty to protect its citizens from violence and attacks.” 

This year, Nigeria remains at number six on Open Doors’ World Watch List. More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world, combined. 

Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, says, “We are urgently calling on the Nigerian president to liberate those abducted in this appalling attack on a group of people who are already traumatised and displaced because of insecurity.   

“Boko Haram is notorious for targeting Christians, abducting and killing men and abducting, raping and forcibly marrying women and girls.  

“We also urge the Nigerian government to work to get the hostages already held by Boko Haram liberated – including young Christian girls such as Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls who are still held captive.” 

Psalm 10 tells us that God ‘sees the trouble of the afflicted’ and asks Him to ‘call the evildoer to account for his wickedness’ (verses 14-15). Please pray with us for all held captive and attacked by extremists in Nigeria. 

*Names changed for security reasons