Release International

A church pastor was brutally murdered and at least seven churches were destroyed when Islamist militants launched a campaign of violence across four states in northern Nigeria.

For four days, the 1,000-strong Boko Haram militant group engaged in fierce battles with police and military – leaving more than 200 people dead in Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Yobe states, according to the BBC.

The group, whose name is roughly translated as 'education is prohibited', appears determined to extend Sharia or Islamic law across Nigeria. So, while its primary targets were police stations and government buildings, Christians and churches were soon within its sights.

The main focus of the violence was Maiduguri, Borno state, where the militants had their base. Official reports said 103 people died in the city. Yakubu Sabo, a father of seven and pastor of the Church of Christ congregation in Maiduguri, was killed in a machete attack. Five churches in the city were razed to the ground.

Violence had erupted on July 26 when police arrested a group of Boko Haram leaders. The military, which had drafted in an extra 1,000 soldiers, finally routed Boko Haram from Maiduguri four days later. Many of the militants are believed to have come from neighbouring Chad and Niger.

Religious rights charity Barnabas Fund reports that the same militants are believed to have been behind violence in Bauchi town in February (Prayer Alert, March 10, 2009) which left 11 people dead and 14 churches in ruins. Maiduguri Christians are still coming to terms with the aftermath of violence in February 2006 when Islamist extremists went on the rampage, killing about 65 Christians and burning 57 churches (Prayer Alert, February 28, 2006).

(Sources: Barnabas Fund, BBC, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, International Christian Concern)

• Ask God to heal and bless His church in Maiduguri which has suffered so much.
• Pray the authorities will do all in their power to prevent Boko Haram regrouping.

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