A friend shared on his Facebook page yesterday the news that dozens of Christian worshipers were murdered in Nigeria yesterday. CBS News writes:
“Terror attacks across Nigeria by a radical Muslim sect killed at least 39 people Sunday, with the majority dying on the steps of a Catholic church after celebrating Christmas Mass as blood pooled in dust from a massive explosion.”
This is the second year in a row that innocent people have been slaughtered at Christmas in Nigeria. Radical Muslim group Boko Haram is claiming responsibility. CBS news reports the group, whose name means “Western education is sacrilege,” aims “to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people.”
This year’s attacks happened in the cities of Lagos, Jos, and Damaturu.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague was quoted as saying,
“These are cowardly attacks on families gathered in peace and prayer to celebrate a day which symbolises harmony and goodwill towards others.”
If there is any good news in this story at all it is that after years, sometimes decades, of similar atrocities against Christian worshipers in African nations the events are finally being picked up by a global news source. As groups such as Amnesty International and the US Holocaust Museum teach us, silence is the greatest killer. These events must be made known and the dead must not be forgotten.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims and to colleagues who are pastoring churches in Nigeria. Pray for peace in Nigeria, Egypt, and all nations where people are paying the ultimate price for their faith.
