Nigeria

BOKO HARAM EXECUTION AN OWN GOAL?

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Could the faith statement of a Christian leader who has been executed in Nigeria encourage Christians facing persecution in that country?

Rev Lawan Andimi 1

Boko Haram has beheaded the Rev Lawan Andimi (pictured), a local chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The Islamist terror group kidnapped the minister during a raid on Michika in north east Nigeria in early January. And they killed him on January 20.

But could an earlier faith message that the militants recorded with him on video have been an own goal for the terror group?

Trans World Radio’s James Maidment-Fullard put that to Andrew Boyd of Release International…

[mp3: 11mins 56secs]

CHURCH CALLS ON NIGERIA TO PROTECT ‘ENDANGERED’ CHRISTIANS

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Nigerian government and the international community to act decisively to help Christians under attack in that country.

Calling for three days of prayer and fasting, CAN pressed the Nigerian government to take effective action: ‘The Church views the unabated kidnappings, extortions and killings of Christians and innocent Nigerians as shameful to the government that each time boasts that it has conquered insurgency.

‘It is reprehensible and saddening that each time the government comes out to claim the defeat of the insurgency, more killings of our people are committed.

‘We are almost losing hope in government’s ability to protect Nigerians – especially Christians, who have become endangered species under its watch.

‘We once again call on the international community [including] the US [and] the UK… to please come to the aid of the Nigerian Church so that we might not be eliminated one by one.’

ENDS