Nigerian Christians asking for prayer for their nation
As tensions in the country mount in the wake of religiously–motivated violence and nationwide fuel protests, Nigerian Christians are asking for our prayers during volatile times in their nation. If you can, please join them in prayer and fasting on 6 and 7 January.
Nigeria is facing precarious times:
Angered by continuous killings of members of their tribes in the north, militia groups in the Niger Delta have threatened to respond in kind from now onwards and warned northerners to leave the area. In response Boko Haram, the Islamist extremist militia responsible for much of the increased violence during the last year, including Christmas Day attacks that claimed at least 40 lives, gave Christians a three–day deadline to leave, which expired yesterday, and advised northerners in the south to return to their traditional areas.
Some international and local observers are increasingly raising the spectre of a division of Nigeria, with many equating the country with Sudan, without taking into account the vast number of Christians from tribes indigenous to the north, and of Muslims indigenous to the south.
There are ongoing country–wide protests following the government’s removal of a fuel subsidy. Major trade unions have announced an indefinite strike and mass demonstrations starting Monday unless the decision is reversed.
Fifty people were killed in an inter–ethnic clash in Ebonyi State, eastern Nigeria last week.
Please pray…
For the unity and peace of the nation, despite talk of religious cleansing, ethnic violence, possible civil war and division
That God would work out His purpose for the country’s future and grant wisdom and divine strategy to the current government
For protection for congregations, and for comfort, strength, encouragement and renewed vision for Christians who feel fearful or vulnerable
That the plans of those seeking to incite further violence would come to nothing, and that the networks and individuals involved in this activity would be exposed and brought down
For comfort for victims and healing for those injured in recent attacks, and that God would provide for those who have lost the family bread–winners. Pray particularly for Chidinma
For adequate protection for vulnerable communities, and that those enforcing the law would do so sensitively enough to protect the innocent, but also, rigorously enough to apprehend the guilty
That both federal and local authorities would move boldly and decisively to bring about justice for victims, peace and reconciliation
Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide