Nigeria (VCM/MNN) — Voice of the
Martyrs Canada reports the deaths of two young Christian men in Nigeria.
According to a Compass Direct report,
the pair died at the hands of Muslims militants in Kaduna state.
The first murder took place Oct 12, when Henry Emmanuel Ogbaje was clubbed to death by a group of
militants who caught him on his way home from church. Although he survived the initial beating,
within a few hours he died from his injuries.
A day later, another young man called "Basil," connected with Our Lady of Apostles Catholic Church,
was stabbed to death. Both
murders took place as Muslims were celebrating the Eid-El-Fatr festival
marking the end of Ramadan.
Local Christians believe these two
murders are an effort to wipe out Christianity from northern Nigeria and to stop
ministry growth.
Although the government is trying to
initiate dialogue between the two faith groups, their efforts have been
undermined by the wave of violent attacks on Christians.
Last month, Kano State flared with
religious violence. Riots there left at least nine Christians dead, although
the true numbers of victims may never be known.
It was also reported that more than 50 people were injured, and more
than 500 members of the minority Christian population were displaced.
These are the latest in a series of
deadly religious clashes in Africa's most populous nation of 140 million, which
is almost equally split between adherents of the two religions.
Pray for those who mourn the
loss of these two faithful followers of Christ. Pray that the Lord will be
exalted through this tragedy and that people in this area will continue to be
drawn to Him. Pray that violence against
Nigerian Christians will cease.
