Christian Persecution – Africa

Communities in Nigeria’s central Plateau state were grieving Tuesday after suspected Islamic gunmen killed at least eight Christians and injured 10 others in a series of coordinated overnight attacks, Christian sources said.

Suspected Islamic “Fulani terrorists” killed at least eight Christians in Nigeria’s central Plateau state, Christian sources said Monday, days after scores of people were killed in a separate attack.

A Nigerian church group has denied army claims that troops rescued dozens of Christians abducted during a deadly Easter attack, as conflicting reports emerged about the number of victims in northwestern Kaduna State.

At least five worshipers were killed when suspected Islamic “terrorists,” also known locally as “bandits,” attacked Easter services at churches in Nigeria’s northwestern Kaduna State, authorities said, with dozens of abducted worshipers later rescued by troops.

At least seven worshipers were killed, and several others abducted when suspected Islamic “terrorists,” also known locally as “bandits,” attacked two churches during Easter services in Nigeria’s northwestern Kaduna State, authorities and sources said.

At least 30 people were killed in a brutal Palm Sunday attack in Ungwan Rukuba, a community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria, marking yet another deadly incident during one of Christianity’s holiest seasons, according to International Christian Concern.

A senior leader of one of Nigeria’s largest evangelical denominations has been abducted in Nigeria’s central Plateau State while concern remains about several Christian worshipers kidnapped elsewhere in the turbulent African nation, Christian sources said Tuesday.

Concerns remained Tuesday about the whereabouts of several worshippers who were abducted Sunday when gunmen attacked the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Nigeria’s north-central Kwara State, police said.

Suspected Islamic Fulani herdsmen have killed a pastor and abducted other Christians in northwestern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, a region marked by recurring religious and ethnic tensions, despite U.S.-backed efforts to curb extremism that has killed thousands of Christians annually, Worthy News learned Tuesday.

A growing number of Islamic militants are abandoning terrorism and turning to the Christian faith in Nigeria, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for Christians, according to a new documentary by a global mission group.

The United States is preparing to deploy roughly 200 American troops to Nigeria in the coming weeks to assist in counterterrorism efforts, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Suspected armed bandits attacked a community in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State, police said, burning a police station, torching part of a church, and abducting several residents.

Nigerian police have confirmed that a large group of Christian worshippers were kidnapped by suspected Muslim gunmen from three churches in a remote area of Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State, reversing an earlier denial that authorities said had been “widely misinterpreted.”