Nigerian Church Leaders: Muslims Are Out To Destroy Christians, ‘They Are Making Worship Services Impossible’

For peaceful purposes …

Qur’an Sura 9:29-30, “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day … nor acknowledge the religion of [Islam], even if they are of the People of the Book … the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them …”

Hadith, Al Bukhari 2:24, “Allah’s Apostle said: ‘I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle …”

Hebrews 13:15, “Therefore by Him [Christ] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

Morning Star News – “Reports of Christians attacked in central and northern Nigeria draw more attention, but in more southerly Benue state Islamic extremists killed at least 205 Christians in the last six months alone, sources said.

In the southeastern part of Nigeria’s middle belt, Benue state’s Agatu Local Government Area saw deadly attacks on Christian farmers by Muslim, ethnic Fulani herdsmen from May through November that displaced an estimated 10,000 people, Christian leaders said.

As in attacks in Plateau state, several of the assailants appeared to be mercenaries from outside the area rather than herdsmen, and locals questioned how the Fulani became so heavily armed. In some of the attacks a herdsmen spokesman alleged stolen cattle as the reason for the bloodshed, but frequently the Nigerian press asserted that motives for the attacks were unknown.

Christian leaders, however, said they had no doubt the Muslim assailants aimed to demoralize and destroy Christians.

‘These attacks on Christian members of our churches have disrupted church activities, as Christians can no longer worship together in their congregations,’ the Rev. David Bello, bishop of the Anglican diocese of Otukpo, told Morning Star News.

The Rev. Michael Apochi, Roman Catholic bishop of Otukpo Diocese, added that attacks by Muslim Fulani gunmen have devastated Christian communities.

‘Life has become unbearable for our church members who have survived these attacks, and they are making worship services impossible,’ Apochi told Morning Star News by phone.

The two Christian leaders called on the Nigerian government to urgently take measures to curb unprovoked attacks on Christians in rural areas of the state.

In the early hours of Nov. 9, Muslim Fulani gunmen killed 25 Christians in seven villages, said area Christian leader Sule Audu.

‘Seven Christian communities were completely ravaged by the rampaging Muslim Fulani gunmen,’ Audu said. ‘The previous Thursday, Nov. 8, two Christian communities of Ikpele and Okpopolo were attacked by the Muslim Fulani herdsmen in a raid that resulted in the killing of three persons, injuring many others, and the displacement of about 6,000 Christians.’

The attacked villages were Ello, Okpagabi, Ogwule-Ankpa, Ogbangede, Ekwo, Enogaje and Okpanchenyi, he said.” Read more.

Flashback: How Long, O Lord …

• Nigeria: Boko Haram: Our Goal Is To Eliminate Followers Of Christ
• Nigerian Pastor Tells Muslim Executioners ‘I Will Never Deny My Savior’
• Nigerian Pastor: Islamists Have Made Christians An Endangered Species
• Nigeria’s Christian President Warns Massacres Means End Times Is Upon Us
• Thousands Flee As Nigerian Islamists Kill Christians, Threaten ‘Massive Bloodbath’
• ‘Islamic Warrior’ In Nigeria Delighted In Chopping Off Heads, Says Islamic Agenda Is To Force Worship Of Allah, Wipe Out Christians