Release International

More than 500 people have been killed and thousands displaced in post-election violence which has swept across northern Nigeria.

At the same time 60 churches were burnt and thousands of Christian homes destroyed in protest at the electoral victory of southern Christian Goodluck Jonathan, reports religious rights charity Open Doors. Muslims were then 'targeted in revenge attacks', according to the BBC.

The Red Cross said that 16,000 people had been displaced across six states in the predominantly Muslim north of the country.

Release partner Stefanos Foundation said that it had had word from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kano state to say that Christian leaders were struggling to cope with the high number of homeless people in need of help.  It also reported that CAN in Bauchi state had said that Christians had taken refuge at police barracks, after receiving threats.

Opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari confirmed to the BBC that churches were being burnt – but denied that the violence was religiously motivated.

However, Stefanos Foundation pointed out that the Nigeria Muslim Council issued an ultimatum on April 6, demanding Christians leave the north of the country within the week. Stefanos appealed for prayer for Nigeria's Christians amid ongoing unrest.

Most of the violence so far has occurred in the northern state of Kaduna. In one rural town there, Zonkwa, more than 300 people died, according to the BBC.

Violence broke out on Monday, April 18, after the preliminary results of the presidential poll were announced. Supporters of opposition leader Buhari claimed the vote was rigged – though international monitors declared the poll to be free and fair.

Many in the north believed the next president should come from their region because the last Muslim president, Umaru Yar'Adua, died in 2010 before he had finished his term. President Jonathan won 57 per cent of the votes.

News update:
Release has renewed its call for urgent prayer for Pakistani pastor Ashraf Paul and his family from Hamza Town near Lahore (Prayer Alert, April 26, 2011) – after their son was attacked yesterday. Sarfraz Ashraf Paul received bullet wounds to the face in the attack, according to Release partner CLAAS. We reported on Tuesday that the family had received death threats from Islamist extremists and had gone into hiding.

(Sources: BBC, CLAAS, Fox News, International Christian Concern, Open Doors, Stefanos Foundation)

• Pray that peace and order will be restored in northern states of Nigeria. Pray that the election result will be accepted by all and that God will guide President Goodluck Jonathan and other Christians in positions of power.
• Continue to ask God to protect Pastor Ashraf Paul and his family in Pakistan.

Back to top