An attack on 28 November by Boko Haram terrorists on farmers working in rice fields in northeastern Nigeria killed at least 110 people. ‘The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year. Many women are also believed to have been kidnapped. Security forces and volunteer vigilante groups are searching to find people still missing. Locals say they recovered 43 bodies in villages near Maiduguri, the capital of the restive Borno state, which has been plagued by an armed campaign for over ten years. A local resident said, ‘Nobody knows the exact number of people killed. We can’t account for farmers who were there; we don’t know if they are hiding in the bush or if they were kidnapped.’ Pray for God to comfort the mourners. See also

Pray: for the kidnapped women to be returned to safety and for a review of Nigeria’s security system so that senseless attacks are prevented and perpetrators captured. (Isaiah 61:8)

More: www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/boko-haram-attack-killed-at-least-110-in-nigeria-un/2060088

PRAYER POINTS FOR THE 24/7 PRAYER CHAIN FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST & NIGERIA, NOV 29 – DEC 5, 2020

(A) PRAISE, WORSHIP & GIVE THANKS TO GOD for all you can remember (B) CONFESS ALL SINS ask for forgiveness; then truly REPENT i.e. Act, change your ways in line with God’s word; live in obedience

INTRODUCTION

Our Father and our God, we come to You in thanksgiving and appreciation for the promises You gave to us earlier in the year as a Church and as a nation which led to the intensity of prayers building up to our 60th Independence Anniversary. We thank You that Your promises in You are Yea and Amen to Your glory (2 Cor 1:20).. As we come, we declare that You are our light and salvation (Ps 27:1) and present ourselves to You in the different stages that we are: that you keep the strong going on, confirm the faith of the doubtful and lift up the weak, weary and confused that in Your Light, we will all see the light (Ps. 136:9); speak clearly to reveal to us where we are in Your plan and agenda and help us to together go on in faith to take the nation for Your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PRAYER 1: O Lord, encouraged by Your strength, we resolve to take the battle to the gate of Your enemies (Is. 28 1-5) According to Your Word, let there be upon our heads, Your diadems of beauty and Your crowns of glory and cause there to be a revelation of Your strong and mighty One that brings to the ground, the pompous and prod heads of those intoxicated with power who have continued in injustice, tyranny, oppression and wickedness in this land, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PRAYER 2: O that You would rend the heavens, O LORD (Is 64:1) and, that You would roar from on high and come down that Your Church and the inhabitants of the nation might fear before You. Let there be a total destruction and consumption of the well-executed plans of Your enemies in this land that have lasted more than 200 years; reveal the hiding places of their strengths and bring a revelation of their weaknesses that will bring their agenda and orchestrations crashing down, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

PRAYER 3: Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ, we take authority over you mistress of witchcrafts operating in Nigeria, that sells nations through your whoredoms, and families through your witchcrafts (Nahum 3:4-6), concerning every spirit of blindness, dumbness and deafness which you have released and operated in Nigeria by which the people have been incapacitated, today we judge you and reveal the east wind of God against you and these spirits, we sack you and them from operation in this land and decree that the liberty of the spirit of God and freedom will once again flourish ring across the land, in Jesus name. Amen.

PRAYER 4: We pray further concerning you mistress of witchcrafts and sorceries, who by your assignment, sells nations and families. Today, in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we search every foundation and subsequent transaction through which each of the nationalities of Nigeria has been corruptly negotiated and sold through greed, avarice, compromise, demonic covenants and associations and we purge each one and their effects upon each of the nations with the blood of Jesus. We command and declare a setting free of the nations making up Nigeria. As the Lord uncovers your skirts, we decree and declare the revelation of every remaining secret, hidden strength and reinforcements by which you carry on your operations, in Jesus mighty name. Amen. PRAYER 5: Father, we bring before You the noise and tumult of the enemy, the commotion and terror of its agents and foot-soldiers, the aggression of its principal agents and urge that You remember that these were brought on at the outset against Your people. Lord, because Your Word says whoever digs a pit shall fall into it, (Prov 26:27), we call upon You and declare that the violence and insecurity that have become the byproducts of these actions will go on to consume the perpetrators completely and irredeemably, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PRAYER 6:Dear Lord, Your Word declares that whatever collides with the name of Jesus shall be broken into pieces and whatever that name falls upon will be ground to powder(Lk 20:18). Today, every person, throne, power, kingdom, institution or altar that exalts itself above Your knowledge, their priests and their altars and every chain, barrier, hindrance and arrangement contrary to the fulfillment of Your Word and promises concerning Nigeria be visited with judgment, in Jesus’ name. Amen

PRAYER 7: According to the Word of the Lord in Isaiah 66:8, I call forth the birthing of the New Nation of Nigeria as You have promised without any hindrance and we ask that the midwives of heaven and earth aid her emergence to fulfill the ordained purpose of God, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Pray other prayers you are led or burdened to pray; including prayers that the recent protests will advance God’s purposes for Nigeria; prayers for release of Leah Sharibu and others; that the older generation in Nigeria be shaken from lethargy and be emboldened to speak up and fulfill their roles in the birthing of the new nation of Nigeria; for USA elections that only God’s choice of President shall emerge and God’s righteousness cover the earth, etc.

REGISTER & INVITE OTHERS: Be part of this 24x7 prayer chain. Please choose your day and time in the week to pray for 30 mins; then register at http://repent.csmnigeria.org You will receive prayer points regularly. This will also enable us to track coverage of each day and week. Please share and invite others too. Thank you.

Protests against police brutality subsided after a violent crackdown: see Now the police chief has ordered more police resources after the curfew gave way to widespread vandalism and looting, including government food warehouses stripped bare. Shopping malls, TV stations, and banks were targeted, and also retail stores in popular Lagos shopping districts. Violence and looting have been reported in most states. Amnesty International said, ‘The turmoil has seen the worst street violence since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999. Wealthy politicians and individuals have been looted, emboldening hoodlums that crimes of this magnitude are achievable. In an effort to quell unrest, the government announced that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) would be disbanded, and promised a host of reforms. But demonstrators are sceptical of government promises without clearly-specified timeframes. Pray for the police to successfully and peacefully prevent further hooliganism. See also

Pray: for President Muhammadu Buhari to establish economic and social justice, and honour his promise to disband SARS. (Proverbs 24:24-25)

More: www.nytimes.com/2020/10/24/world/africa/Nigeria-protests.html

On 21 October Lagos police opened fire on protesters after twelve days of demonstrations against police brutality. The shootings took place at a toll gate after Lagos officials had imposed a 24-hour curfew on 20 million people in a bid to bring the protests to an end. But the demonstrations against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) show little sign of slowing down. SARS should tackle robbery, kidnappings and other violent crime, but has been widely criticised for human rights abuses including torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings. Plain clothes police officers frequently target young men with tattoos, dreadlocks, and expensive cars arbitrarily. The Nigerian army has tweeted out stills of news reports about the ‘alleged’ shootings with the words ‘fake news’ plastered across them in red letters. However, Amnesty International said there is disturbing credible evidence that they actually took place. See also

Pray: for President Muhammadu Buhari to establish economic and social justice, and honour his promise to disband SARS. (Proverbs 24:24-25)

More: news.sky.com/story/end-sars-nigerian-police-open-fire-on-protesters-in-lagos-after-12-days-of-anti-police-brutality-demonstrations-12109649

BREAKPOINT: Benjamin Watson, Tulsi Gabbard and Frank Wolf on the Slaughter of Christians in Nigeria

On Wednesday of this week, I was honored to participate in a media event, along with former U.S. Representative Frank Wolf, current U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, former Super Bowl star Ben Watson, and Stephen Enada, president of the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON). The targeting of Christians in Nigeria, for persecution, abduction, and death, is so dire, it’s been labeled “genocide” by observers both inside and outside the country.

Especially in northern Nigeria, Christians are under a sustained, brutal assault by two groups bent on their destruction: The Islamist terror group Boko Haram and Fulani militants motivated by a mixture of Islamist ideology and greed for land. On any given day, Christians are killed, raped, and kidnapped.

An interactive calendar on the ICON website offers a documented summary of how many Christian have been victimized each day since December of last year. As I mentioned in my comments for the panel, this campaign against believers has been going on for years, but the calendar offers a visual picture that the persecution of Christians in Nigeria is as recent as last week. For example, just last week, over 20 Christians were killed and over 60 abducted.

As Stephen Enada, leader of ICON and host for Wednesday’s panel, told me recently on the BreakPoint Podcast, Nigerian Christians are in the midst of an “existential crisis.” In addition to those killed, there are more than 3 million displaced Nigerians. Women and children are being trafficked to Europe.

Yet the Nigerian government has embraced a policy of indifference, if not complicity. At most, they arrest a few perpetrators, declare them “de-radicalized” after a short while, and send them back into the community. Many continue to prey upon their Christian neighbors.

This is why every member of Wednesday’s panel called for external pressure. The Nigerian government must be pressured by the international community, especially the government of the United States of America. Creating that pressure is the mission of ICON. Their comprehensive report, “Genocide in Nigeria,” offers the full, heartbreaking picture of what is happening in Africa’s largest country. You can get a copy on their website.

Wednesday’s event was designed not only to inform media about ICON’s activities and resources, but to press for action while offering possible ways the U.S. might pressure the Nigerian government to act.

After pointing out that more Christians have been killed in Nigeria than Islamists have killed in Syria and the rest of the Middle East, former Representative Frank Wolf urged the Trump Administration to appoint a special envoy for Nigeria. In addition to working with the U.N. and NGOs to coordinate all efforts to confront the crisis, a special envoy will send a signal that the United States is serious about the problem and is willing to put its sizeable weight to work in order to address it.

Enada seconded Wolf’s recommendations, saying that “it’s more important than ever that the U.S. government act to resolve this crisis. A special envoy,” he said, “with the full backing of our federal government, would have the power to hold perpetrators accountable.” Representative Tulsi Gabbard, a Hindu, voiced her support for these kinds of efforts as well. Too often, she said “these attacks go unnoticed,” but Americans must “join our voices against the systematic slaughter of Christians.”

Former Super Bowl Champion Ben Watson struck perhaps the most inspirational note of the event. “If we are silent about [what’s happening in Nigeria] we are in some way complicit.” He then linked the campaign for justice in Nigeria to the campaign for racial justice here at home: “This shouldn’t be limited to our shores . . . we must raise a voice against violations around the world.”

And please, pray for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria. As I said at the event on Wednesday, and I’ll say it again, praying is doing something. Primarily, prayer aligns our hearts with the heart of God. And, make no mistake, the heart of God is aligned with our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. The more we pray the less we will tolerate silence about their persecution.

More at: https://breakpoint.org/benjamin-watson-tulsi-gabbard-and-frank-wolf-on-the-slaughter-of-christians-in-nigeria/

Imagine what life is like when it is unsafe to live in your own home, or you can’t guarantee you and your children will have food each day? That’s the awful reality for many Christian women in northern and central Nigeria - on top of the grief and trauma brought about by violent conflict and killings. Tirham, a volunteer at an Open Doors trauma centre in Nigeria, says, ‘Sometimes there are days without any help from anyone for them to be fed.’ She was speaking about the impact of Covid-19 on daily life for many Christian women living in the shadow of violence. We are asked to pray that every Christian family affected by violence in Nigeria will be provided with food, shelter and safety, and that violent militant attacks will cease. Pray for continued strength, protection, and encouragement for Open Doors partners like Tirham, who come alongside those affected by persecution.

Pray: for God to bring peace where there is war, health where there is pandemic, and comfort for the bereaved. (Psalm 86:3)

More: elinkeu.clickdimensions.com/m/1/20433554/p1-b20275-48b31e1ea3e943ea965518bde6957c41/8/377/52073507-e24d-4219-aeea-a527ad26a7b4

Since January there have been constant murders, looting, rape and abductions of Christians in Southern Kaduna. On 9 August a series of short videos entitled ‘Stop the Killings in Southern Kaduna’ was released as part of a campaign calling for an end to targeting Christian communities. The videos feature high-profile celebrities, actors, comedians, music artists and business executives. The president of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union said, ‘There is no greater lie than the narrative that the killings in southern Kaduna are between farmers and herders. 75% of the victims were women and children’. CSW has called for effective action to address the situation and echoes the Nigerian entertainment industry which has spoken out about the relentless loss of life. CSW says, ‘We continue to call for urgent international interventions, including the convening of a special session of the UN human rights council, with particular focus on the current crisis in southern Kaduna and Plateau State.’

Pray: for God to answer the cries of people calling for an end to violence in Nigeria. (Psalm 147:14)

More: premierchristian.news/en/news/article/nigerian-celebrities-join-calls-to-end-mass-killings-of-christians-in-new-campaign

Nigeria is presently passing through one of her most difficult times in history. The church is facing an existential threat from islamists with a clear agenda to overrun the entire nation.

Unfortunately, there is a conspiracy of silence by the international media concerning the atrocities taking place in Nigeria (similar to what happened in 1994 before the genocide in Rwanda). In an opinion piece on The Wall Street Journal of 20th December, 2019, Bernard-Henri Lévy wrote: “A slow-motion war is under way in Africa’s most populous country. It’s a massacre of Christians, massive in scale and horrific in brutality. And the world has hardly noticed.”

In recent years, Nigeria has been consistently ranked among the top five nations on the Global Terrorism Index. Of the four deadliest terrorist groups in the world, three operate in Nigeria: Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, an offshoot of ISIS; Boko Haram; and Fulani Herdsmen (militants). In Nigeria, the three groups are united in their goal to exterminate Christians especially in Northern Nigeria and ultimately make Nigeria an Islamic nation. They seem to have the will and wherewithal to accomplish their goal unless the Lord stops them.

In the past, they were restrained by government’s honest prosecution of the war against terrorism. But in the last five years, a new government, led by people who have been accused of being sympathetic to the Islamic agenda, has been unsuccessful in stemming the rampage of the terrorist groups. Curiously, almost the entire military and security agencies of Nigeria are under the control of devout Muslims (mostly Fulanis), some of whom have been accused of aiding and abetting the terrorists. A respected former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has openly accused the government of having a “fulanisation and islamisation agenda.”

The well-known historian and theologian, Professor Philip Jenkins, in his book entitled, The Next Christendom, aptly stated that: “At least, 45% of Nigerians are currently Christians, some 72 million people. But how will the number change in future decades? No church or religion has a guaranteed market share in any country. It is quite possible to imagine a scenario in which the proportion of the Nigerian Christians could fall as low as 10% in the event of persecution or a successful jihad by the nation’s Muslims. The figure could rise higher if a sweeping Christian revival were to occur.” The activities of the terrorists and the policies of the government are tending towards the former. The only acceptable option for the church in Nigeria is revival, that is why we must pray.

See Obianuju Ekeocha's emotive video pleading for prayer and action on this serious situation in Northern Nigeria.  It contains graphic images of the Kukum Daji massacre aftermath that took place in July 2020:

The following prayer points are only a guide. May the Lord bring us to the depth of prayers that would stem this rising tide of violence in Nigeria.

1. TERRORIST GROUPS. ISWAP, Boko Haram, and Fulani Herdsmen are ranked 2nd, 3rd and 4th on the Global Terrorism Index. The Nigerian government does not still consider militant Fulani Herdsmen a terrorist group. This has enabled them to continue with their mayhem against Christian communities while the security officers look the other way. The activities of the herdsmen now extend to virtually every part of the country. There are speculations that it is a modern form of jihad. Pray that God would stir up a national and international outcry and action against these groups.

2. PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE NORTH. Pray that God would strengthen the Christians in the north. Many pastors and their members have been murdered by Islamic fundamentalists. Sometimes, these executions are carried out in the community square before children and other onlookers to inflict further pain on those who survive. Many of these Believers have been traumatised and scared for life. Pray for God to heal their emotions and strengthen their faith.

3. ECONOMIC JIHAD. There is an ‘economic jihad’ that is being waged against non-Muslims, especially Christians. Christians are losing their jobs and are being replaced by Muslims;  Christian farm lands are either expropriated by state governments in the North or forcefully taken over by Fulani herders. Pray for God to comfort and provide for His people in their sufferings.

Download the full Nigeria Prayer Guide with 16 different prayer pointers from the IPC Website

Pastor Austen Ukachi – IPC West Africa Director

PRAYER POINTS FOR THE 24/7 PRAYER CHAIN FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST & NIGERIA, OCT 11-17, 2020

(A) Psalm 150.6  “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Nigeria is a principal placewhere this should be so. If it is not God, Nigeria will simply not exist anymore, let alone be in such peace as we have. RAISE, WORSHIP & GIVETHANKS TO GOD; Hallelujah!!! O, bless the name of the Lord that Nigeria is now 60 years in independence; not broken up; and that God and has preservedthe Church. Thank God for all you can remember  (B)  CONFESS ALL SINS of your life to date and of Nigeria over these 60 years & REPENT (Act;change in line with God’s word; obey)

Please pray the prayers below in the name of Jesus Christ for yourself, family, the Church and for Nigeria.

1. Isa 60:11 “Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee thewealth of the Gentiles…”. Faithful God, let all gates of evil that you have not opened be shut forever henceforth; but letgates of righteousness, peace and prosperity be opened continually unto me, my family, the Church and Nigeria henceforth, in the mighty name of JesusChrist.
2. Isa 60:12“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterlywasted” Every nation, kingdom, caliphate, emirate etc that will not serve Jesus Christ and His purpose, that will not repent andis bent on opposing God’s will for…[fill uphttps://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isa%2060.13" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="rtBibleRef" data-reference="Isa 60.13" data-version="esv" data-purpose="bible-reference">Isa 60:13“The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place ofmy sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious” O Lord, by Your mighty power and outstretched arm, let all that isnecessary to advance Your kingdom and beautify the Body of Christ flow abundantly now and henceforth unto….[fill uphttps://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isa%2060.14" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="rtBibleRef" data-reference="Isa 60.14" data-version="esv" data-purpose="bible-reference">Isa 60:14 “The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bowthemselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD” O Lord, please do what You alone can doand also enable us do all we can do like Elijah, Daniel, Mordechai and others; that all those who have opposed and despised You, the gospel, and Yourchildren shall acknowledge that You are the true and Most High God
3. Isa 60:15“I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.” Merciful God, we cannot attainthis on our own. Per Your promise, make….....an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations
4. Isa 60:17“For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stonesiron.” Please Lord, stretch forth Your hand to usher in Your comprehensive upgrade in all aspects of.....…..
5. Isa 60:17,21 “I will also make thy officers peace, and thine magistrates righteousness….Thy people also shall be allrighteous….that I may be glorified”O Lord, our eyes are longing. Your prophet Pa Elton said the name of Nigeria shall stinkfor corruption but a golden era of righteousness will follow. Lord, You said “I will also make”. Please Lord now MAKE; please speed forththis peace and righteousness in..........
6. Isa 60:18“Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy wallsSalvation, and thy gates Praise.”  Ah, Lord God, is there anything hard for you. Please, let this word become flesh NOW asNigeria clocks 60 years in independence.
7. Isa 60:19,20“The LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neithershall thy moon withdraw itself…and the days of thy mourning shall be ended” Merciful God, come and be the light and theglory of…......; let all mourning end forever
8. Isa 60:22“A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in histime.” Lord, You mercifully turned water to wine even when “My time is not yet come”. In this 60th year ofNigeria’s independence, please hasten to perform Your good words concerning...

Pray any other prayers you are led or burdened to pray; including prayers that ongoing riots will not bring chaos but advance peace,progress and God’s purposes; prayers for Ondo elections etc.

REGISTER & INVITE OTHERS: Be part of this 24x7 prayer chain. Please choose your day and time in the week to prayfor 30 mins; then register at http://repent.csmnigeria.org/ You will receive prayer points regularly. This willalso enable us to track coverage of each day and week. Please share and invite others too. Thank you.