[Today’s Prayer] Plateau State, Nigeria, 70 churches closed due to terrorist attacks by Islamic Extremist groups

It was revealed that 70 churches of one denomination were closed due to terrorism by armed groups in Plateau State, central Nigeria.

In an interview with Christian Daily International (CDI) and Morning Star News, Pastor Amos Mohzo, Chairman of the Church of Christ for the Nations (COCIN), said 70 churches in Mangu and Bokkos Counties in Plateau State were destroyed due to attacks by the Fulani and other terrorist groups. They said they had to stop worship for two years.

He added that the Christmas attack, which occurred in December 2023, had a direct negative impact on the COCIN church.

“Our congregation and people were killed and lost their homes and many were traumatized, but we could do nothing,” said Pastor Mohzo. “We were stranded but we had to face the challenge, and despite the tragedy, displaced Christians in refugee camps were able to celebrate Christmas,”he said.

He said at least 40 COCIN churches were closed due to terrorism in Mangu district. “Most of our church members are displaced people, many of them living in (refugee) camps on the outskirts of the community,” Mohzo said. “Most Christians are trying to survive, moving from place to place, trying to make a living.”

He also said the denomination lost about 30 member churches in the Bokkos region. “All the places of worship in this community were burned down by terrorists,” Mohzo said. “Christians who were driven out here are still living in camps outside the community. “Most of them, who are farmers, are still unable to return to their farms,” he said.

But some Christians said they bravely returned to their farms and formed communities.

Meanwhile, COCIN churches in northeastern Nigeria are experiencing difficulties in evangelism due to attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Branch (ISWAP).

“Boko Haram took over the village many years ago and is still there today,” Mohzo said. “So this hill that the terrorists occupy overlooks the villages of Limankara and Gwoza,” he explained. “They come down from the hill, attack the communities, and then retreat to the hill.”

(omitted)

Mohzo said there have been so many kidnappings recently that the COCIN denomination is having trouble raising money to ransom its pastors. In March 2023, Pastor Paul Musa and his wife were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Borno state. In the third week of June, these terrorists threatened to “kill the couple if they do not pay the ransom within a week.”

“It has been more than a week since the terrorists made the threat, and we have not heard anything from the kidnappers, so now the ultimatum has expired,” Mojo said. “We appeal to those who kidnapped Pastor Musa and his wife to release them.”

He said terrorism had spread to northwestern Nigeria. The Diocese of Sokoto announced that Roman Catholic priest Mika Suleiman, who was kidnapped in Nigeria's northwestern Zamfara state on the 22nd of last month, was recently released. But he and church officials did not disclose the group that kidnapped him or the terms of his release.

According to the 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report, Nigeria had the highest number of Christian persecution cases in the world, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. During this period, there were 3,300 kidnappings of Christians, the highest in the world. Additionally, Nigeria had the third highest number of attacks on Christian buildings in the world, with 750, including churches, hospitals, schools, and cemeteries.

Source: Christian Today

And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. (Joshua 23:3)

We hear the sad news that churches in Nigeria have suspended services for the past two years due to terrorism by armed groups.

Lord, would you save the Nigerian Christians who are also having to move from place to place to survive the ongoing persecution, with church chapels and houses being burned by terrorists, church members being killed, and pastors kidnapped.

We believe that the Lord our God will never sit idly and will judge Nigeria with His righteousness.

May you help them become the Nigerian church that will stand in faith until the end, with expectation that the Lord will fight for Nigerian Christians.

As the Nigerian churches awaken in prayer and seek you, would you grant them the mission given to Ananias and Barnabas, who guided Paul when he was blind.

Although there are attacks that make it difficult to evangelize, may you help them to spread Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work among them and allow those like Paul to return to the Lord.

Therefore, may Nigeria overcome all this persecution and become a nation that will rebuild and raise up the African churches!