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Persecution News - Nigeria

Nigeria Profile

Total Area:
923,768 sq. km

Population:
138,283,240 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnicity:
Nigeria is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Language:
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani

Religion:
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, Indigenous Beliefs 10%

Government Type:
Federal republic

Capital:
Abuja

Population Below Poverty Line:
70% (2007 est.)

Country Reports

Ten Killed, Churches and Homes Burned in Muslim Riots in Northern Nigeria

December 19, 2007

^{Elim Church
Photo from}^{Compass Direct}

Ten people were killed, several Christians seriously injured, and Christian churches, businesses and homes burned when Muslims went on a rampage in the Yelwa Tudu area in Bauchi state on December 11, according to a December 13 report from Compass Direct. The violence occurred after unidentified people pulled out two blocks from the foundation of the mosque under construction at the Baba Tanko Secondary School in Kagadama shortly after construction began on the building on December 2. The Muslim students believed that Christians had done the damage and threatened to attack local believers. Although the school principal and staff thought that they had diffused the tension, nine days later Muslim students stormed out of a classroom and converged at the mosque site chanting "Allahu Akbar." They then began to attack Christians with knives and daggers. The violence eventually escalated into a town-wide riot. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Assemblies of God Church and the Elim Church were set ablaze and sustained fire damage. At least a dozen Christianhomes were destroyed in the attack.

At last report, only one of those killed has been identified, a Christian known only by his surname, "Bogoro." The identities of the other nine have been kept secret by the government and their bodies were given a swift burial in a common grave.

Pray that the Lord will fill Christians with His peace and strength as they recover from this brutal attack. Ask God to comfort those who have lost loved ones. Pray that Christ will be exalted through this tragedy and that people in this area will continue to be drawn to Him (Phil. 1:20).

For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Nigeria, go to the Nigeria Country Report.