Confusion and concern have followed a deadly Easter attack on a church in Kaduna state, as local residents dispute the army’s claim that 31 abducted civilians were rescued. The military reported that troops engaged attackers in a fierce firefight, forcing them to flee and leaving hostages behind. However, community leaders insist that those taken remain missing, with no evidence of any rescue. The attack, which took place during Easter celebrations, left at least five people dead according to official figures, though local sources say the toll may be higher. Church leaders and community representatives have called on the army to clarify the situation and account for those reportedly freed. Northern Nigeria continues to face frequent violence from armed groups and bandits, with churches and Christian communities often affected. Despite military efforts and international support, insecurity remains widespread, with ongoing kidnappings and attacks deepening fear among residents. The incident highlights the urgent need for protection, transparency, and lasting peace in vulnerable regions.

Pray: for protection over believers, truth in reporting, and God’s peace overcoming violence and fear in Nigeria. (Psalm 27:1)
More: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgld111d9jpo

On 16 March, coordinated bomb attacks by suspected suicide bombers struck the Nigerian city of Maiduguri, killing at least 23 people and injuring over a hundred. The explosions hit a crowded market, a hospital entrance and a nearby area just after people broke their Ramadan fast, and caused panic as survivors fled. The military have blamed the jehadist Boko Haram group, which originated in the town in 2009, and warned of increased threats during the final days of the holy month. The attacks shattered a period of relative calm in the city, long associated with insurgency but recently more stable than surrounding rural areas. Violence across northeastern Nigeria has persisted, with extremist groups continuing assaults which have killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. Officials have increased security presence and pledged stronger action, though concerns remain about ongoing vulnerability. The resurgence of attacks highlights the fragile security situation and the continued challenges facing efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.

Pray: for comfort, healing, and protection for those affected by violence. (Psalm 72:14)
More: www.africanews.com/2026/03/18/security-analyst-on-maiduguri-attacks-the-city-has-always-been-vulnerable/

More than 300 people, including many women and children, have been abducted after militant fighters attacked the town of Ngoshe in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state. Local officials say the assault likely came in retaliation for the recent killing of three Boko Haram commanders by Nigerian forces. The attack forms part of a wider wave of violence across the region, with additional assaults reported in several nearby communities. Although the military says troops repelled some attacks, soldiers were also killed during the fighting. Mass kidnappings have become increasingly common in Nigeria, particularly in remote areas where security is limited. Armed groups often arrive on motorbikes, raid villages quickly, and disappear into remote bushland before troops can respond. Among the militant groups operating in the region are Boko Haram, IS, and other armed gangs which engage in kidnapping and illegal mining. Analysts warn that cross-border militant cooperation and new technologies such as drones are strengthening these groups, while many communities remain vulnerable to ongoing violence.

Pray: for protection over vulnerable communities in Nigeria and for freedom, rescue, and peace for captives. (Psalm 82:4)
More: news.sky.com/story/more-than-300-people-abducted-by-islamic-militants-in-northeastern-nigeria-officials-say-13516231

Leaders of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) are meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, to consider appointing an alternative senior leader to the Archbishop of Canterbury, shortly before the installation of Archbishop Sarah Mullally. GAFCON, formed in 2008, represents a coalition of mainly conservative Anglicans who say they seek to defend biblical teaching and preserve orthodox doctrine within the global Anglican Communion. The group has been critical of developments within parts of the CofE, particularly discussions around same-sex blessings and questions of church leadership. At the gathering, delegates are expected to elect a primate who would act as a leading bishop and symbolic figure for churches aligned with the movement. Some Anglican leaders have expressed concern that such a move could deepen divisions within the worldwide Communion, and churches have been urged to pursue unity through established structures and ongoing theological dialogue. The meeting highlights continuing tensions over authority, doctrine, and the future shape of the global Anglican family. See

Pray: for humility, truth, and unity across the Anglican Communion as leaders seek faithfulness to Scripture. (Ephesians 4:3)
More: premierchristian.news/en/news/article/anglican-breakaway-group-elects-alternative-sarah-mullally

Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has called for stronger action by state governments as the country faces a worsening outbreak of Lassa fever. The viral disease, endemic in parts of West Africa, typically peaks during the dry season from November to May, and at least 18 Nigerian states have reported cases, notably Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Edo. By mid-February, 326 infections and 75 deaths (including three healthcare workers) had been confirmed. Officials say weak infection-prevention practices and limited access to personal protective equipment have contributed to transmission in hospitals, including maternity and outpatient wards. The virus spreads through contact with food or household items contaminated by rat urine or droppings, or through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals. Gaps in contact tracing, along with stigma and misconceptions which delay treatment, have also increased risks. There is currently no licensed vaccine for Lassa fever.

Pray: that affected communities will receive adequate protection and access to suitable treatment. (Jeremiah 30:17a)
More: www.africanews.com/2026/03/04/nigerian-health-agency-urges-stronger-state-action-on-lassa-fever-outbreak/

An investigation has alleged that the Nigerian government paid a substantial ransom to secure the release of up to 230 children and staff abducted from a Catholic boarding school in November. The pupils were taken from St Mary’s in Niger state during a mass kidnapping by Boko Haram. Intelligence sources told AFP that millions of dollars were delivered by helicopter to militants in northeastern Borno state after negotiations reportedly led by national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Two Boko Haram commanders were also said to have been freed. Officials publicly denied paying any ransom, insisting that government agents do not negotiate with kidnappers. The Islamist insurgent group, active since 2009, has carried out widespread violence and abductions across northern Nigeria. Reports suggest the children were released in stages after confirmation that the payment had been received.

Pray: for the safety of all schoolchildren in Nigeria, and for the authorities to have greater success in combating Boko Haram. (Psalm 34:19)
More: www.africanews.com/2026/02/23/nigeria-paid-boko-haram-ransom-for-kidnapped-pupils-afp-investigation/

A brutal massacre in Nigeria’s Kwara state left more than two hundred dead after gunmen attacked two Muslim-majority villages for rejecting extremist teaching. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, entered a mosque and shot worshippers, then moved house to house killing, kidnapping and burning residents. Many victims were tied before execution, and entire families were wiped out. Survivors fled, leaving only a few men to bury bodies among destroyed homes. Authorities blamed Boko Haram-linked militants, and the army deployed troops while local groups struggled to respond. The violence reflects Nigeria’s wider insurgency, where armed factions target both Muslims and Christians, spreading fear across communities. International partners are now providing intelligence support, yet the tragedy shows the urgent need for protection, reconciliation and healing for traumatised survivors who have lost loved ones and livelihoods. In related news, the USA is to send two hundred soldiers to Nigeria to train local forces: see Nigeria’s military recently claimed to have killed a senior Boko Haram commander and ten other militants in Borno.

Pray: for comfort, protection and healing for grieving and displaced survivors. (Psalm 34:18)
More: www.christianpost.com/news/at-least-162-massacred-for-refusing-radical-islam.html

On 21 November, at St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state, more than three hundred students were abducted in a mass kidnapping - the worst such attack recorded against a Catholic school in the region. Although fifty children managed to escape and have been reunited with their families, 253 students and twelve staff members remain captive. Parents of missing children are traumatised, anxiously searching for any sign of their loved ones. This kidnapping follows several recent attacks, including the abduction of over two dozen schoolgirls in Kebbi and of 38 people attending a church service in Kwara state (though these have now been rescued). These incidents come only a few weeks after Donald Trump spoke of ‘Christian genocide’, which the government denied (see) President Bola Tinubu has reassigned VIPs' bodyguards to core policing duties and ordered the recruitment of 30,000 new police officers, acknowledging that ‘many parts of Nigeria’ are not adequately policed. Church leaders and global voices, including the Pope, have called for urgent action to rescue the hostages and restore safety for Nigeria’s citizens. Many feel that the West doesn’t seem to care about this ongoing level of terrorism: see

Pray: for the safe rescue of every kidnapped child and adult, and for the government to do more to prevent similar attacks in future. (Psalm 46:1)
More: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-24/nigerian-students-escape-kidnappers-st-marys-school/106043750

Northern Nigeria is facing a rapidly escalating hunger emergency as militant attacks make it too dangerous for farmers to work their land. According to a new World Food Programme (WFP) report, Nigeria is on track to experience the worst-ever food crisis in Africa next year, with an estimated 35 million people expected to suffer severe hunger. In Borno state, the centre of ongoing insurgencies, at least 15,000 people are projected to face catastrophic hunger including famine-like conditions, as it is now classified at the highest level of food crisis severity. Violence from armed groups has spread, including recent kidnappings and the arrival of an al-Qaeda-linked faction claiming attacks in Nigeria for the first time. The crisis has been intensified by a major reduction in humanitarian aid following Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US funding from the WFP. Without renewed support, millions may be left without critical food assistance, deepening instability and human suffering across the region.

Pray: for restoration of safety, renewed access to farmland, and urgent aid to prevent widespread famine. (Isaiah 58:10)
More: www.africanews.com/2025/11/25/wfp-sounds-alarm-as-nigeria-braces-for-severe-hunger-in-2026/

Donald Trump’s threats to cut aid and launch military strikes against Nigeria over alleged ‘Christian genocide’, while resonating with US evangelicals, might misrepresent and oversimplify the country’s complex crisis. Nigeria’s conflicts, spanning insurgency, banditry, and communal clashes, are not purely religious but deeply rooted in ethnicity, identity, and government failures. Analysts warn that US intervention, whether through sanctions or drone strikes, could devastate civilians already trapped between terrorists and insecurity. History shows that ‘precision’ attacks often result in innocent casualties, worsening humanitarian crises. Arguably, Trump’s decision to freeze most foreign assistance programmes have exacerbated the problem, resulting in job losses for about 28,000 health workers and pushing vulnerable Nigerians deeper into hardship. His threats pose a dilemma for President Tinubu. If he cooperates, he might appear weak, but defying Washington might risk economic and military pain.

Pray: for wisdom for Nigeria’s government in knowing how to protect all citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity. Pray for Donald Trump to show restraint and use wiser methods of influencing the situation. (Proverbs 15:22)
More: www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/832822-analysis-civilians-in-nigerias-conflict-zones-risk-more-harm-if-trump-orders-military-action.html

Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso have been removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF’s) global ‘grey list’, marking a crucial milestone in Africa’s financial integrity efforts. Once seen as high-risk for money laundering and terrorist financing, these nations have implemented sweeping reforms which have restored investor confidence and strengthened global partnerships. Nigeria’s tighter oversight of mobile money and anti-money-laundering laws, and South Africa’s expanded powers for financial regulators, have begun rebuilding trust in governance and transparency. Mozambique and Burkina Faso have improved their ability to track illicit cross-border transactions linked to armed groups. The delisting signals international recognition of progress - but it also serves as a reminder that vigilance and accountability must continue. For ordinary citizens, these reforms bring promise of greater economic stability, job creation, and stronger consumer protection: neighbouring countries could experience a confidence rebound, especially in attracting greater international investment.

Pray: for African leaders to be wise stewards, ensuring increased prosperity for all their people. Pray for financial transparency in every country. (Proverbs 10:9)
More: www.africanews.com/2025/10/29/nigeria-south-africa-removed-from-global-money-laundering-watchlist/

Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Manchester United’s young Danish defender, openly acknowledges his Christian faith as the foundation of his life and career. For Dorgu, prayer is not a ritual but a rhythm - something he has practised since childhood and continues amid the pressures of elite sport. His faith keeps him grounded in both victory and disappointment, reminding him that his purpose lies beyond football. By embracing his full Igbo name, meaning ‘God answers prayers’, he is honouring his Nigerian roots and testifying to God’s faithfulness. Dorgu’s move to Old Trafford, which he believes was divinely arranged, reflects his conviction that God’s plan governs every step. His example shows how belief can guide ambition, humility and resilience in a world where success often overshadows spirituality.

Praise: God for Patrick’s testimony. Pray that young athletes will follow his example to find strength, identity and peace through faith amid the pressures of competition. (Philippians 4:13)
More: www.premierchristian.news/en/news/article/manchester-united-patrick-dorgu-christian-faith-guides-him?