 | How Boko Haram's Murders and Kidnappings Are Changing Nigeria's Churches by Timothy C Morgan Christianity Today |
"Is Nigeria as bad as we read in news headlines?
"...It’s even worse. Hundreds of churches have been destroyed, over 50 in Kano alone. One church and ministry has been built seven times and destroyed seven times. Another has been built three times and destroyed three times. Pastors have been murdered in their houses. Another was murdered in the church during a prayer service.
"The situation is much worse further north in Yobe and Borno states, the headquarters of Boko Haram. People have fled residences where their forefathers lived for generations. Christians have been the victims.
"Are Christians being targeted? Or are these attacks possibly reprisals against the government or civilized activity of any kind?
"Boko Haram is an extremist Islamic organization. In 1992, the Islamic community expressed its desire, along with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), to make all of Nigeria a Muslim state. [Nigeria is an OIC member.] Over 90 percent of buildings destroyed by Boko Haram are Christian churches.
"But the church in the north is strong and vibrant. Boko Haram wants to eliminate the churches because they are unacceptable to Muslims. They don’t want Christians in the Muslim areas, so they bomb those places of worship, or refuse to give them a license to worship..."
"...It’s even worse. Hundreds of churches have been destroyed, over 50 in Kano alone. One church and ministry has been built seven times and destroyed seven times. Another has been built three times and destroyed three times. Pastors have been murdered in their houses. Another was murdered in the church during a prayer service.
"The situation is much worse further north in Yobe and Borno states, the headquarters of Boko Haram. People have fled residences where their forefathers lived for generations. Christians have been the victims.
"Are Christians being targeted? Or are these attacks possibly reprisals against the government or civilized activity of any kind?
"Boko Haram is an extremist Islamic organization. In 1992, the Islamic community expressed its desire, along with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), to make all of Nigeria a Muslim state. [Nigeria is an OIC member.] Over 90 percent of buildings destroyed by Boko Haram are Christian churches.
"But the church in the north is strong and vibrant. Boko Haram wants to eliminate the churches because they are unacceptable to Muslims. They don’t want Christians in the Muslim areas, so they bomb those places of worship, or refuse to give them a license to worship..."
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