Urgent Prayer: Pastor, 16 Church Members Kidnapped in Nigeria

by Lindy Lowry in Africa, Stories of Persecution

Our field has just alerted us that 17 Christians in Nigeria have been kidnapped from a church. The group of church members, which includes a pastor, his daughter at least and at least nine other women, had gathered in the church for a choir practice.

Police confirmed that on Saturday, May 18, around midnight an estimated 20 unidentified gunmen entered Unguwar Kuli village, a border community between Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State and Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.

“The gunmen started shooting sporadically, went and intercepted some church members while closing from service,” according to the report.

Reportedly, the attackers surrounded the church where the choir practice was taking place and “just started shooting,” a witness in Dankade village told Nigerian newspaper The Cable.

“It was at about 12:30 midnight,” the witness said. “We had a combined choir practice in the church with other neighboring communities. Everybody was terrified but there was no how we could run because they had already surrounded the church.”

The Christian Association of Nigeria reports that the kidnappers are demanding N30 million ($83,100) in ransom.

This attack and recent others indicate ever-increasing insecurity in Nigeria, which is preparing for its presidential inauguration. Please be in prayer with us. One of our field workers in the country shared: “This has brought fear to the believers around the area and also tears to the families. Please, they need the prayers of the believers.”

This part of Nigeria is likely to be infested with radical Fulani Herdsmen, rather than Boko Haram. But these are not the only Muslim terrorist groups operating in Nigeria, though some may be just criminal gangs.

Katsina State, Nigeria

Hunting Boko Haram: Nigerian Warrior ‘Queen’ Leads Flintlock-Armed Fight Against Islamist Extremists

Aisha Bakari Gombi (center), leader of the anti-Boko Haram vigilante squad in Nigeria. 

© Screenshot / RT Documentary

They used to hunt animals with spears and sticks, but now, wielding ancient rifles and led by a fearless warrior ‘queen’, a Nigerian vigilante squad goes after Boko Haram, one of the most violent jihadist groups in Africa.

Boko Haram roughly translates to ‘Against Western Education’. Its ruthless militants have been plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa for decades.

The Islamists know no mercy, as their attacks wreak havoc on Nigerian towns and rural villages. When they aren’t setting off bombs, they raid the area for hostages. While doing so, Boko Haram often targets women and girls.

In 2014, the group kidnapped 276 female students from a school in Chibok. Most of them have still not been rescued, and similar incidents keep occurring.

Nigerian soldiers hold up a captured Boko Haram flag. March 2015. © Emmanuel Braun / Reuters

In remote regions, it is up to ordinary citizens to help the army fight the terrorists. And so, the Civilian Joint Task Force was born. These loosely affiliated vigilante squads patrol the northeastern states of Borno and Adawama, where Boko Haram is most active.

The squads are made up of experienced hunters. But instead of wielding spears and sticks, like they did in the past, they now roam the bush searching for militants.

One such squad is led by Aisha Bakari Gombi. “I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I joined. I was still very little,” she says. “The grown-ups used to carry me on their shoulders during hunts.”

Aisha at first just used a bow and arrow. Later she received an “ancient” Turkish rifle. After the previous commander was killed, the woman was named Adamawa’s ‘warrior queen’. Her team is diverse, ranging from old men to teenage boys who recently enrolled in middle school.

“We’re supporting the efforts of our government to restore peace in our country,” the ‘queen’ notes. “We’re trembling, we’re scared, but we’re hunting Boko Haram.”

The hunters are chiefly armed with homemade rifles, some with flintlocks. They wear black clothes, and rely on amulets and war paint instead of body armor. They lack medical supplies to treat the wounded, and the only transportation available is via tuk-tuks, or motor-rickshaws. The hunters’ only advantage is that they know the area well and can track down terrorists in their hideouts.

Members of the anti-Boko Haram vigilante squad travel by motor-rickshaw. © Screenshot / RT Documentary

“There’s one operation I’ll never forget,” hunter Abubakar Hamma Adama describes an expedition against the jihadists in one of Nigeria’s remote villages.

“Eventually, we found their camp and opened fire, but they just kept coming and coming and coming. That was a hell of a battle. We took heavy losses.”

video 25:39

Corruption Creeping Back into Nigerian Military Gives Power to Boko Haram

83 Nigerian soldiers missing after Boko Haram attack

By Ed Adamczyk  


Nigerian army members with refugees from Boko Haram. Sources said 83 Nigerian soldiers remain missing after an attack on their installation in the village of Gashigar in Borno state. Photo courtesy of Nigerian Army/Facebook

GASHIGAR , Nigeria, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Eighty-three Nigerian soldiers are missing six days after a battle with Boko Haram forces, military sources said.

The soldiers remain unaccounted for after the Islamist insurgents attacked their base at Gashigar in Nigeria's Borno state. The Nigerian army confirmed the attack last week but has not offered updates nor mentioned the missing soldiers. The Nigerian newspaper Pulse, citing a story in the Premium Times, said top military sources confirmed the soldiers were missing.

The sources suggested the soldiers may have drowned in the Yobe River while fleeing the attack. About 22 soldiers were rescued from the river by Niger's army and are recovering in a Diffa, Niger, hospital, they said, but others were shot and killed as they attempted to escape in the river. 

Corruption - Soldiers unpaid, fed 1 meal per day

The sources added poor morale, brought on by unpaid salaries and only one meal per day, is affecting the Nigerian army as it seeks to control the insurgent group; they suggested commanding officers are skimming the daily pay and rations for their own benefit, a practice common during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan but allegedly changed by President Muhammudu Buhari.

President Buhari, your country is slipping back into its former ways of world-class corruption. It's time to clean house again. You do not want to be compared with Goodluck Jonathon.

A renewed show of strength by Boko Haram comes after several months of the Nigerian army's claims that it is winning the battle against the insurgents, and that combat operations will soon slow. The army announced Saturday that 21 people were arrested for livestock rustling, a common means in Borno state of funding Boko Haram.

    Gashigar is north of Maiduguri along the Niger border

Nigerian Army: Self-declared Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau 'Fatally Wounded'

If Goodluck Jonathon were still running Nigeria, I would completely dismiss anything that comes from the Army. However, since his demise I have come to where I almost believe what the military say. 

By Andrew V. Pestano  


Abubakar Shekau, who took over leadership of Boko Haram after its founder was killed in 2009, recently said he maintains his position as leader in the group despite contradicting claims. The Nigerian Army on Monday said Shekau was "fatally wounded" in an airstrike conducted last week. Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice

ABUJA, Nigeria, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The Nigerian Army said an airstrike carried out last week "fatally wounded" self-proclaimed Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

Nigerian Army Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, acting director of the army's public relations division, said Monday the "unprecedented and spectacular air raid" conducted on Friday by the Nigerian air force killed "some key leaders of the Boko Haram terrorists" while others were "fatally wounded."

"Those Boko Haram terrorists commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, amongst others," the army colonel wrote. "While their leader, so-called 'Abubakar Shekau,' is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders. Several other terrorists were also wounded."

If this is true it is good news. With Shekau being ousted as leader there was a good probability that he could have started a competing terror group with his and Boko Haram each trying to out-do the other. That, if possible, would have made life even more difficult for the good people of northeast Nigeria. It would also have split military resources fighting against them. Let's hope 'fatally wounded' is an accurate description of Shekau's injuries.

Shekau became leader of Boko Haram after its founder, Mohammed Yusuf, was killed in 2009 -- when the militant Islamist group first began its campaign of mass kidnappings, executions, suicide bombings and assaults on remote military bases and villages. More than 20,000 people have been killed and millions have fled Nigeria due to the fighting that created a humanitarian crisis.

Boko Haram would later pledge allegiance to the Islamic State -- becoming the self-proclaimed caliphate's West Africa province.

Earlier this month, Shekau said in a video he remained the leader of Boko Haram despite contradicting claims published in an Islamic State magazine, also vowing to continue fighting. At that time, the Islamic State declared Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the son of founder Yusuf, the new "governor" of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in 2013. The militant Islamic group seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria and has ruthlessly targeted civilians.

Boko Haram Kills 18 Women at Funeral Wake

By Doug G. Ware  UPI  

ADAMAWA, Nigeria, June 17 (UPI) -- More than two dozen women were attacked by Boko Haram militants Thursday at a funeral wake in Adamawa state in northeast Nigeria, authorities said.

    Kuda, Nigeria

Police said the women had gathered in Kuda village when militants suddenly arrived on motorcycles and began shooting. Witnesses also reported that the militants set homes on fire.

At least 18 people were killed and 10 were wounded in the attack, news media reported.

Officials, though, said they were not initially certain exactly how many were killed or wounded.

The site of the attack, Kuda village, is near the Sambisa Forest -- where militants fled after being run from urban areas in Nigeria, and where the first of 219 kidnapped schoolgirls were rescued last month.

Boko Haram continues to operate in Nigeria, despite the nation's president, Muhammadu Buhari, saying months ago that the group had been "technically defeated."

News media also reported that the militant group killed four people and kidnapped at least three women near Chibok on Thursday.