Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 140 | Wed 04 Jan 2012
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NIGERIA: BOKO HARAM THREATENS CHRISTIANS - the battle for Nigeria
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By Elizabeth Kendal
Boko Haram -- also known as the 'Nigerian Taliban' -- was founded in 2002
in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria's most north-eastern state, Borno.
The group demands the complete Islamisation of all Nigeria. After their
leader, Sheikh Mohammed Yusuf, died in police custody on 31 July 2009,
Boko Haram declared jihad on the state. In June 2010 Boko Haram formalised
its ties with al-Qaeda which has long sought strategic depth in sub-
Saharan Africa and a foothold in Nigeria. Since then, Boko Haram has been
sending militants to Somalia for military training under al-Shabaab and
escalating, intensifying and expanding its terror campaign.
Vowing to render Nigeria 'ungovernable', Boko Haram targets anything that
does not support its fundamentalist Islamist ends and jihadist means:
universities, police, secular courts, Christian churches and even liberal
mosques. On 16 June 2011 Boko Haram perpetrated Nigeria's first ever
suicide bombing, killing eight and wounding dozens at Police Headquarters
in the federal capital, Abuja. In August they followed that up with a
suicide bombing at the UN headquarters in Abuja, killing 25. Throughout
2011, citizens have been fleeing Borno in large numbers to escape the gun
battles, assassinations and terrorism that have become a near-constant
phenomenon there. Despite all this, the Nigerian government has been
reluctant to treat the threat seriously. While the federal government has
been equivocating, Boko Haram's projection of strength has been winning it
popular support from radicalised Muslims amongst the masses and in the
military.
On Christmas Day 2011 Boko Haram bombed two churches: one on the outskirts
of the federal capital Abuja and one in the volatile Middle-belt city of
Jos. The car bomb that exploded in the car park of St Theresa Catholic
Church at Madalla, Niger State, just 29km from Abuja, was massive. At
least 42 were killed, most incinerated by the massive fireball that
consumed 17 vehicles. Dozens were seriously wounded. About the same time,
a suicide bomber attacked the Yobe State Command Headquarters of the
Department of State Security Services (SSS) in Damaturu, killing three.
Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan, was subsequently slammed for his
lame response quoted in Vanguard 25 Dec 2011: 'The issue of bombing is one
of the burdens we must live with,' he said. 'It will not last forever.'
(Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had the same lame response to the
unconstitutional implementation of Sharia law across the north.) On Friday
30 December four Muslims died in Maiduguri when a bomb planted by Boko
Haram exploded outside their mosque after Friday prayers. By the next day,
President Jonathan had closed Nigeria's borders with Chad and Niger
Republic and declared a state of emergency in 15 hard-hit local government
areas of Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Niger states, sending tanks and soldiers
to patrol the streets.
Boko Haram has responded to the state of emergency by upping the ante. On
Monday 2 Jan 2012 Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa issued a statement that
southern Christians living in the north -- particularly those in the north-
eastern states of Borno and Yobe -- had three days to leave or face
further violence. Boko Haram says it is prepared to confront the Nigerian
military, which it claims is only interested in killing innocent Muslims.
Many believe Boko Haram is keen to trigger a religious civil war that
would attract international jihadists who themselves have a strategic
interest in Nigeria.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT --
* churches and individual Christians across Nigeria will respond with
radical faith: not as the world does, by putting faith in weapons,
money or might, but by crying with one voice to the LORD who gives
strength and wisdom and deliverance (Psalm 34). 'Our God is a God of
salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death' (Psalm
68:20 ESV). 'It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in
princes' (Psalm 118:9 ESV).
* God will intervene in Nigeria to end the terror, expose the falsehood
of Islam and deliver his people from evil. May the wicked who plot evil
against the Church be snared in the work of their own hands (Psalm
9:15,16) and repent and turn to the LORD; may God be glorified
(Galatians 1:23,24).
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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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NIGERIA: BOKO HARAM THREATENS CHRISTIANS
Since formally linking with al-Qaeda in June 2010, the Nigerian terrorist
group Boko Haram has intensified and expanded its jihad against the state,
vowing to render Nigeria 'ungovernable'. Christians have been hit hard. On
Christmas Day 2011 a massive car bomb exploded outside St Theresa Catholic
Church at Madalla, Niger State, just 29km from the federal capital Abuja.
At least 42 were killed, most incinerated by the massive fireball that
consumed 17 vehicles. A state of emergency has been declared with tanks
and troops now patrolling 15 of the most hard-hit local government areas.
Boko Haram responded by giving southerners and Christians three days to
leave the north or face more violence. The battle for Nigeria has begun --
please pray for Christians, the Church and the nation.
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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.
For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal's
This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious
Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international
religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.
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