On Tuesday 4 October, Islamic militants murdered three Christians in an attack on Njilang village, located in northeastern Nigeria.
During the attack, the militants burned multiple houses and businesses to the ground and wounded dozens more residents. Residents who witnessed the attack identified the militants as affiliates of the terror group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Chibok county has suffered from many terrorist attacks over the past several years. It is a majority-Christian area, which makes its residents highly vulnerable to violence motivated by Islamic extremism.
One resident reported that the ISWAP militants attacked at 2:30am and were armed with high-powered weapons. They surrounded the village and shot at the Christians who tried to flee.
“The ISWAP terrorists also set fire to six houses and looted five shops belonging to Christians in the village. After the looting, they also burned down the shops,” added the resident.
In the northeastern part of Nigeria, ISWAP, alongside Boko Haram, has killed thousands of Nigerian citizens. The abduction of young Christian women to become brides for the militants is commonplace. Millions of Christians have been forced to flee their homes due to the violence.
According to a report released in January by the Chibok Area Development Association, since 2012 at least 407 Christians have been killed in the area in 72 attacks by either Boko Haram or ISWAP rebels.
The Nigerian government continues to deny any religious motivation behind the attacks. However, evidence repeatedly shows that Islamic extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP are seeking to impose Sharia (Islamic law) throughout the entirety of Nigeria.
Source: International Christian Concern
Please Pray
Pray for the community members in the aftermath of this attack. Pray especially that the Christians in the village will be able to rebuild their homes and businesses.
Pray for believers across Nigeria who have been forced from their homes by Islamic attacks. Pray that the Lord would provide their every need and that they would find refuge in Him.
Pray that God will deliver Christians from the hands of ISWAP and Boko Haram militants.