In what is being noted as systematic direct war against Christianity in Nigeria, Pastors, Christian Leaders and Seminarians are either being kidnapped or killed every week.
A major tragedy was averted on Sunday at Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Sabon Tasha branch in Kaduna, as a middle-aged man was caught with what is suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device.
The incident occurred at about 10:02am, while the worship service was still on going.
The suspect made several attempts to detonate the IED but didn’t succeed before security operatives in the church apprehended him, according to Sahara Reporters.
Sources in the church revealed that the suspect was monitored on a CCTV camera carrying the bag into the church auditorium.
It was further disclosed that this was not the first time the suspect was coming to the church, adding that just last week, he came but was sent away.
“We were within the Holy Communion and all of a sudden we started hearing noise outside,” a Church member said.
A witness Augustine Vincent, said he came riding a motorbike simply behind the auto whilst he located a suspicious move and alerted the security. “God noticed our coronary heart and saved us,” he said.
Christian Persecution In Nigeria
The persecution of Christians is rapidly increasing across Nigeria — but these massacres rarely make the news.
Christians in Nigeria have been the target of many attacks by the vicious Boko Haram jihadist Islamist terrorists, herdsmen attacks and many other kidnapping in recent times.
Recall that Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi, was recently beheaded by the deadly Boko Haram terrorists for his Christian faith.
The execution of Rev. Andimi who was abducted early this January when the terrorists invaded his village, coincided with the execution of 22-year-old Christian student, Ropvil Daciya Dalep, a 200 Level Biology Education student of the University of Maiduguri and a native of Jing in Pankshin LGA Area of Plateau State, who was abducted on his way back to school from Plateau State.
The murder of Andimi and Ropvil came just few weeks after the murder of 11 Christian aid workers and the beheading of a Christian Bride and her Bridal Party En route to Wedding, by the Islamic extremists.
Northern Nigerian Christians are among the most persecuted all over the world.
It reached its peak in 1998 when Boko haram came up.
What actually made some people to come together and formed a terrorist gang to kill people are the hatred and the pains they received daily by sighting Christians around them, especially in Borno state where the headquarters of the Boko Haram sect is located. Nothing is more hurtful to an Islamic jihadist than hearing Christian drums and songs.
Last month, the U.S. State Department listed Nigeria on its “special watch list,” designating it among countries that have “severe violations of religious freedom” because of the Nigerian government’s inability to thwart an increase in violence and abductions carried out in various areas of the country.
“We are designating [Nigeria] special watch list for the first time because of all of the increasing violence and communal activity and the lack of effective government response and the lack of judicial cases being brought forward in that country,” U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback told reporters in December.
“It is a dangerous situation in too many parts of Nigeria. The government has either not been willing to or have been ineffective in their response and the violence continues to grow.”
The U.K.-based nongovernmental organization Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust issued a report in November claiming that at least 1,000 Christians were killed by Fulani and Boko Haram extremists in 2019 while as many as 6,000 have been killed since 2015.
Meanwhile, as Christian persecution increases in the northern part of Nigeria, massive conversions of Muslims to Christianity are taking place too.
These brave believers face the threat of brutal death daily, but they refuse to forsake the God they love. They’re being forced from their homes, turned into refugees, and constantly made to fear for their lives.
Despite all this, the church of Jesus Christ in Nigeria is growing so rapidly and forcefully advancing.
Would you pray for Christians living in Nigeria? Please pray they will receive peace and comfort, and that one day they’ll be able to practice their faith openly without fear of death.
Nigeria is ranked 12th on Persecution Watchdog, Open Doors’ 2020 World Watch List of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.
See More Photos From Foiled The Living Faith Church Suicide Bombing Attack
By Believers Portal