Nigeria (MNN) — For years, Christians have seen violence take place on Christmas Day, and this year was no exception. In Borno, Nigeria, the Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, invaded the Kimba village and killed 16 people, including children.
Grief sweeps across the nation, but Open Doors wants to restore hope.
The Guardian reports the jihadists attacked at around 10pm on Friday and open fired on residents. Following, they burned homes and shops and kidnapped six people
“Not a single house was spared in the arson,” vigilante Musa Suleiman told the Guardian after visiting the village.
The AFP reports hundreds of the residents fled to Biu nearby, where refugee camps are already filled of people who have escaped Boko Haram.
While the Kimba people are scrambling to find help and supplies, the nation is looking to Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari who’d set a December 31 deadline to defeat the terror group. Earlier this week, he said the Nigerian army had “technically” defeated the group that has killed over 20,000 people in the last six years and associated themselves with the Islamic State.
“The timeline on when to stop the insurgents from activating sleeper cells and detonating bombs into soft targets in any part of the country, especially in the front-line states, is therefore not tenable,” Air Commodore Yusuf Anas of the Center for Crisis Communication said at the end of November.
Over the last several Christmases, Boko Haram has martyred Christians. The deadliest attack, which occurred in 2011, saw the death of 37 people in the bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church.
Christians have stood strong against the attacks and continue attending church services despite threats, according to Christian Post. Yet still, after the massacre, Christians are discouraged and praying God will bring an end to the violence surrounding them.
Open Doors is empowering and encouraging them by sharing the Word of God and providing much-needed supplies. Come alongside Open Doors in renewing Nigerian Christians hope and faith in Christ.
Nigeria is ranked #10 on the Open Doors 2015 World Watch List of the 50 worst persecutors of Christians. Look for the 2016 WWL, which will be available on January 13.
I pray for the victims’families. I also pray that God will move powerfully among the BH and either save them or confuse and disable them. I also pray for your president that he’ll be enabled to stop the group. Prayers for the church to be refreshed by their Savior’s love for them. Your sister, Gail