Note from Randy: My thanks to Stephanie Anderson on the EPM staff, and Kathy Norquist on the EPM board, for their help putting together this information.
Christmas is a time of celebration for millions of believers around the world. But for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ, Christmas 2024 meant persecution and grief. Open Doors Canada Reports, “The Week of Christmas 2024 brought with it multiple fatal attacks on Christians in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.”
My Nigerian friend Samuel Kunhiyop keeps our ministry updated with what is happening in Nigeria. His most recent news was that on December 22, 15 Christians were brutally murdered in the town of Gidan Ado.
Sam writes:
“The highway runs through the middle of the town. I drive through that almost every week and am very familiar with the town. The inhabitants of the village are 100% believers, and our church has most of the believers attending the church. They are all farmers all year round. On that fateful night, Christmas Eve, the terrorists attacked innocent people around 7:30 pm and murdered 15 men who were carefully selected and shot in the head. It was just gruesome and inhuman. All those murdered were breadwinners in their various households. 13 were buried in a mass grave and two were buried individually. Now, apart from the destruction of property, we have 15 widows and orphans who have lost their husbands and fathers within a very short time. You are probably asking, what is the government doing? All they say is that they are investigating—a very familiar story we hear all the time.”
A heartbreaking video that Sam shared shows the stark and horrible reality of these murders, including widows weeping for their lost husbands. (You can watch it here, but please be aware that it includes disturbing footage of those murdered, demonstrating the level of atrocities committed.)
Please pray for these dear people and the ongoing fear and vulnerability of the people in the region. There is much frustration and heartache for the people who are left without protection. Pray the government authorities will take action and bring justice to the perpetrators.
In addition to praying, these 15 families need food for the next few months until the rainy season begins in May. If you’d like to give, you can donate through EPM and select the special fund “Persecuted Church.” Through January 31, 100% of what’s given to this fund will be directed to BILD International, an organization partnering with Samuel to help persecuted believers in his region.
Sam writes, “I wish we can get the international community to be aware and condemn these atrocities and criminality against fellow human beings created in God's image.”
He added, “Thanks for sharing our pains and praying.”
