Five Christians were shot dead near Jos, Plateau State, on 29 August by Muslim gunmen, who had stopped the bus they were travelling in and separated them from the other passengers. They found out who among them were Christians and forced the five to lie down in a ditch. At this point, another Christian man became embroiled in the scene when the Islamists stopped his motorbike. He said: The gunmen asked me about my religion, and when I told them I was a Christian, they asked me to join a group of people already ordered to lie down by the side of the road. It was when the gunmen started shooting and killing those of us that were Christians grouped together that I ran into a nearby maize farm, because it was already dark. Four other Christians, including a pregnant woman, were injured in the attack.

Pray: for God’s people that they will be protected and their enemies will be held back. (Ps.68:1)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/kidnapped.nigerian.archbishop.freed/33990.htm

The Dean of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, was abducted at about 10.30pm on Friday, as he journeyed in the company of his wife, Beatrice, from Eleme to Port Harcourt. It was gathered that the abductors later freed the bishop's wife following a chase by the police. The Bishop was taken to an unknown destination. ‘It was the hot pursuit by the police that forced the kidnappers to abandon the wife. The police are still combing the axis. Very soon, he will be secured unhurt. I mean very soon. I believe God will assist us and we will rescue him.’ A senior member of the Anglican Church said no contact has been established with the suspects, adding that the whereabouts of the bishop remain unknown. As at press time, no ransom demand has been made by the abductors. Church members said they are praying for the victim’s unconditional release and would not think of paying any ransom.

Pray: that Archbishop Kattey will be unharmed and released soon. (Ps.146:7)

More: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/national-news/132213-anglican-bishop-kidnapped-in-rivers

Boko Haram’s name means ‘Western education is sacrilege.’ They recently kidnapped three teachers at a school in Benin City, the fifth school attack since June. They killed 48 students and 7 teachers in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. In Yobe a school was set on fire while students aged 10-15 slept. Anyone trying to escape was shot. At Mamudo terrorists killed 22 students and a teacher. At Adanu students were lined up, stripped, made to lie face down and shot. Then the bodies were burnt. Boko Haram wants to reinstate a 19th century caliphate - believing secular schooling has brainwashed Nigerians to accept post-colonial Western order and forget Islamic ways. Consequently, Yobe schools are now closed in response to the bloodshed, teachers and students across Nigeria have withdrawn from schools remaining open and one teacher (who possibly represents many) said she was not prepared to die for teaching and is looking for a new job.

Pray: for the Lord to demolish the demonic forces that are using Boko Haram to harm innocent children, teachers and the education system throughout Nigeria. (Dan.10:13)

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/nigeria-state-closes-all-schools_n_3559417.html

At least 50 civilians were killed and dozens more injured in a series of weekend attacks in north-eastern Nigeria by Boko Haram. CSW reported 12 killed when Boko Haram members dressed in military and police uniforms attacked Ngom village in Borno State last Saturday. An unconfirmed report said 19 people from surrounding villages were also murdered on Sunday. Also on Sunday 46 worshippers in a mosque were killed and 30 injured. At the same time, other members of the group petrol bombed and destroyed 50 homes. This was Boko Haram's first large scale attack inside a mosque; the group had previously targeted individuals on their way to or from prayer. Meanwhile, due to a breach in communications there are now doubts over the widely reported Nigerian military's claim that Boko Haram’s chief was killed earlier this week. See http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/doubts-over-claims-of-boko-haram-chief-s-death-in-nigeria_870460.html

Pray: for the state of emergency in Borno and Hobe States to successfully remove all who violently attempt to establish their interpretations of religion. Pray for good communications between military and government bodies. (Ps.34:14)

More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=43876&PN=1

Abba Moro, Nigeria's interior minister, said the army is making progress in the war against Boko Haram despite the killing of 44 people in a mosque on Sunday. He dismissed the attack as ‘desperate’ and ‘isolated’ telling the BBC ‘The security agencies of Nigeria have been able to push the Boko Haram sect from their major strongholds.’ Thousands of extra soldiers have been sent to the north-eastern states since a state of emergency was announced in May. On Monday 32 militants, 2 soldiers and a policeman were killed in clashes with Boko Haram in Borno state when troops successfully repelled terrorists who attacked a military base. We are asked to continue to pray that Boko Haram’s plans to establish an Islamic caliphate in the country will fail. More than 2,000 people have died since terrorists commenced killings and bombings mostly in the northern part of the country. See also: http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/nigeria-clashes-between-boko-haram-and-army-35-killed_867088.html

Pray: God will continue to strengthen the resolve and abilities of Nigeria’s government and army in its fight against terror. (Ps.37:10-11)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23689074

Nigeria’s criminal justice system is utterly failing Nigerian people and a majority of prisoners are not convicted of any crime. Amnesty International reported ‘The problems in Nigeria’s criminal justice system - especially its prisons - are so blatant and egregious that the Nigerian government has had no choice but to recognize them and has pledged many times to reform the system.’ We are asked to pray that beyond their technical ability, the Holy Spirit will help judicial officers discern the guilty from the innocent and liars from those who tell the truth. Ask God to raise God-fearing people through whom there will be a cleansing and purging of the judiciary and an honouring of the work of righteous the work oflawyers, judges and magistrates. Pray for God to expose wicked and corrupt judges so as to discourage them from evil. Ask God to put godly people in the National Judiciary Council, the body in charge of appointments. Ask Him to use the Nigerian Judiciary as a tool to make the nation law-abiding. For more insights into prayer for Nigeria; http://www.pray4nigeria.org/

Pray: for God to build up the remnants of the Judiciary that are still just and honourable. (Ps 89:14 & Is.28:6)

More: http://www.pray4nigeria.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=332:day-8-judiciary&catid=47&Itemid=285

Kano has been among the cities hardest hit during Boko Haram's insurgency, despite the recent lull. On Tuesday four bomb blasts ripped through a mainly Christian area killing 24 people and leaving 3 seriously injured. A small church may have been among the targets. Residents described the area as being littered with the personal belongings of those who ran in fear and confusion once the explosions began. At least three schools have been attacked in northeastern Nigeria by suspected Boko Haram members in recent weeks. Over the weekend, clashes between a vigilante group and Boko Haram members left at least 20 people dead in the village of Dawashe in Borno State. The insurgency is estimated to have claimed more than 3,600 lives since 2009, including killings by the security forces.

Pray: for all working tirelessly to support communities affected by violence, may they restore people's hope. May God guide, sustain and strengthen them as they repair broken walls. (Is.58:12)

More: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/nigeria-bombs-kill-12-mainly-christian-area-095440715.html#BFwMTVL

Many Nigerians are enraged, wondering how a senator notorious for marrying a 14-year-old girl can use Shariah law as an excuse to filibuster a constitutional amendment that has sparked a debate on the age of consent for girls. Since the country's secular and Islamic laws clashed in the upper house of Parliament last week, concerned citizens are using petitions, protests and social networks to demand the Senate revisit the issue. ‘Every Nigerian should bow his or her head in shame because instead of crushing the head of the lustful beast that seeks to fornicate with our children, to steal their virtues and to destroy their future, what the Senate did the other day was to compromise with and cater for the filthy appetites and godless fantasies of a bunch of child molesters and sexual predators,’ Femi Fani-Kayode (a traditional chief and former Cabinet minister) fumed in a letter to The Vanguard newspaper on Monday.

Pray: for the age of consent to remain at 18 in Nigeria and an end to the practice of forcing underage girls into marriage. (Jer.22:16-17)

More: http://www.kwqc.com/story/22902103/islamic-and-secular-laws-clash-in-nigerias-senate

Security of citizens is one of the most important roles of government; unfortunately many issues are threatening the security of Nigerians and other nationalities living in the nation. Armed robbery, religious violence, intertribal crises, bad roads causing accidents, Fulani herdsmen destroying peoples' farms and attacking the farmers, carelessness in the aviation industry resulting in air-crashes, sales of false drugs, etc. All these problems of insecurity make Nigeria look hopeless like the dry bones of Ezekiel 37:1-4 but the Lord breathed life to the dry bones and they became a great army and were brought out from the graves to their own land. Ask God to open the grave of all areas of life in Nigeria and bring the country out of corruption, occultism, bloodshed, violence, Boko Haram killings, injustice and witchcraft. Pray and prophecy to the dry bones of authority in Nigeria that Nigeria will live and prosper once again.

Pray: for God to bring about peace, unity and love to manifest amongst all people of various religious backgrounds and tribes in Nigeria. (Ps. 72:6,7)

More: http://www.pray4nigeria.org/images/resources/Prayer-Guide.pdf

Secondary schools have been ordered to close across Nigeria's north-eastern state of Yobe after a massacre in which Boko Haram Islamist extremists torched Mamudo Boarding school killing 22 students. ‘Boko Haram’ translates as ‘Western education is forbidden’ and dozens of schools have been burned in attacks by them since 2010. Eyewitnesses said some victims were burned alive while others were shot as they fled. An Associated Press reporter found chaotic hospital scenes where traumatised parents struggled to identify their children among the charred bodies and gunshot victims. Survivors said suspected militants arrived with containers full of fuel and set fire to the school. Yobe Governor Ibrahim Gaidam condemned the ‘cold-blooded murder’ and ordered secondary schools to be closed until September to allow state and federal government officials plus community leaders to work towards guaranteeing school safety. He also asked the government to remove mobile phone signal blocks across the state as the lack of mobile communications prevents patriotic citizens from reporting suspicious movements in their neighbourhoods.

Pray: for God to comfort those who mourn and to bless those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.(Mat.5:3-10)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-2322123

Anglican Archbishop Nicholas Okoh asked the Federal Government to impose capital punishment for perpetrators of rape and killing. He also advised young ladies to avoid indecent dressing and nudity in order to avoid people who lacked sexual self-control. At Tuesday's press briefing in Abuja he counselled religious leaders to concentrate on teaching morality, not how to make money adding, ‘My church has not met to discuss the issue of capital punishment for rapists. But rape is becoming an embarrassing situation in this country and as religious leaders we must continue to react against deviant behaviour. We must continue to support marriage in order to build a decent society.’ He told the story of an incident of violent rape of a family, particularly the mother, by armed robbers and the perpetrator being executed adding, ‘The law of capital punishment for those who rightly deserve it should stay.’ Many favouring the death penalty quote Genesis 9:6.

Pray: that the broken systems in Nigeria will mend and administer justice not more victims. (Mat.6:14)

More: http://www.punchng.com/news/anglican-church-seeks-capital-punishment-for-rapists-others/

Refugees say Islamic extremists threatening a bloodbath are forcing thousands of people from villages in northern Nigeria where the fighters have regrouped following a month-long military crackdown. People who escaped through the bush to the Borno state capital of Maiduguri say the Boko Haram terrorist network have also written letters warning government workers to resign their jobs or face death. Some villagers fled to neighbouring Cameroon. In a separate operation in Kano state police say they have rounded up 400 migrants and are deporting those who do not have the necessary documents. A state of emergency and military and police crackdown since May 14 have failed to crush the extremists blamed for the killings of more than 1,600 people since 2010. Meanwhile Amnesty International received credible reports that the authorities in the State of Edo in southern Nigeria have hanged four men in Benin City Prison on 24th June – the first known executions in the country since 2006. See also http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18587

Pray: for the Government of Nigeria to know God’s way forward and for God to empower them with His wisdom in all decisions at this time. (Is.30:21

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/militants-in-north-nigeria-force-thousands-to-flee_856991.html