Nigeria terror attacks shut down 70 churches
By Andrew Boyd, from Anglican Ink.
Terrorists in Nigeria who are targeting and burning churches have forced one leading denomination to shut down 70 of its congregations in Plateau State.
Continuing attacks in Mangu and Bokkos counties have forced 70 churches to close and are preventing evangelistic outreach in northeastern Nigeria, according to the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN).
‘Burned down’
‘All our worship church buildings in these communities were burned down by terrorists,’ the president of COCIN, Rev Amos Mohzo, told Morning Star News.
He added, ‘Christians are still living in camps outside their communities. Most of the farmers are unable to go to their farms.
‘Evangelization has been impeded in this part of the country. How can we deliberately jeopardise and danger the lives of those called to ministry, when we know that they’ll become targets of terrorist attacks?’
Attacks by heavily armed Fulani militants killed 238 people over Christmas of 2023. Those attacks by Fulani, Boko Haram and bandits have continued unabated.
30,000 killed
Partners of UK-based Release International, which supports persecuted Christians worldwide, say more than 30,000 Nigerians have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists and Fulani militants since the troubles began in 2001.
And according to Nigerian NGO Intersociety, jihadis have destroyed 18,000 churches since 2009.
Release International (RI) highlighted Nigeria as a country where violence against Christians is rising in its 2024 Persecution Trends report.
Acting on intelligence, RI’s partners are sending out warnings of pending attacks to local communities via text messages. They’re also providing vital assistance in the form of trauma counselling for the victims
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