Nigeria: Militant Islamists give Christians three days to leave Northern Nigeria

Boko Haram's track record of violence makes it all too likely that they will follow up this threat with a religious cleansing of the North. Please pray urgently for the protection of Christians in Northern Nigeria at this time.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: Barnabas Fund
By Barnabas Fund | Januray 4, 2011

Militant Islamist group Boko Haram has given Christians three days to leave Northern Nigeria following attacks on churches and other targets over Christmas that left more than 40 people dead.

The ultimatum, issued late on Sunday, intensifies the threat to Christians in the Muslim-majority North, parts of which are under a state of emergency after the Christmas violence.

Boko Haram, which wants to impose sharia law across the country, claimed responsibility for a coordinated series of bomb and gun attacks on churches and the security services in five states on Christmas Day, 25 December 2011.

The majority of the fatalities occurred at a church in Madalla, near the capital, Abuja; around 35 worshippers were killed as explosives were hurled at the congregation as they left the service.


It is the second consecutive year that Boko Haram has staged Christmas attacks; last year, 32 people were killed in a series of bombings in Jos on Christmas Eve.
 
Barnabas Fund warned just before Christmas that the festive season might see anti-Christian attacks in various parts of the world. Nigeria is just one of several countries where such violence broke out.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said:

Once again, for many Christians around the world, the Christmas season has been a time not of peace and joy but of violence and hostility. Please pray for our brothers and sisters who have been attacked, and especially for the Christians of Northern Nigeria, who were threatened by Boko Haram on Sunday that they must leave by Wednesday. Boko Haram's track record of violence makes it all too likely that they will follow up this threat with a religious cleansing of the North. Please pray urgently for the protection of Christians in Northern Nigeria at this time.

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