On Sunday, 16 October, two gunmen attacked a church in northern Nigeria’s Kogi State during a worship service. The attackers rode to Celestial Church on motorbikes, wielding their guns before entering the building.
According to Jerry Omodara, Kogi State’s top security official, the two militants fatally shot a woman and her young daughter and injured an unknown number of the congregation. Jerry also believes that the militants specifically targeted the church and its members. “It looked like it was organised against that particular church because their altar was burned with petrol,” he said.
Church attacks are not uncommon in Nigeria, a country that remains a hotbed of religious violence. Earlier this year, gunmen opened fire at a church in southwestern Nigeria, killing 48 people. Further attacks in the past six months demonstrate the prevalence of violence against Christians in the Muslim-majority nation.
Pray for the victims’ families and for the quick recovery of all those injured in the attack.
Pray that Nigeria’s government will take action to prevent further violence.
Pray for the courage and strengthening of other Christian communities across Nigeria who are suffering from persecution.