By Elizabeth Kendal

Southern Nigeria is predominantly Christian whilst northern Nigeria is predominantly Muslim. An ethnic-religious fault-line runs through the centre. Rising Islamic fundamentalism and zeal spurred on by the legitimisation of Sharia Law in the northern states has caused persecution of Christians to escalate in the north. It has also led to devastating sectarian conflicts across the religious fault-line middle belt where many towns are almost equally divided between Muslims and Christians.

Jos, the capital city of Plateau State in central Nigeria, sits atop this religious fault-line. When local officials refused to publish the results of council elections held Thursday 27 November, rumours circulated that the Christian-dominated People’s Democratic Party had won a majority of the seats. Muslims accused Christians of rigging the result and, propelled by incitement from their mosques, went on an anti-Christian rampage / jihad, attacking churches, Christians and Christian properties. At least 16 churches have been burnt and four pastors are confirmed killed. Several mosques were also burnt. On Saturday officials announced that the PDP had indeed won 16 of the 17 seats, defeating the Muslim-dominated pro-Sharia All Nigeria Peoples Party.

International secular media are reporting that Muslim-Christian clashes have left up to 400 Muslims dead, but fail to report that the armed Muslim rioters died in clashes with the police and security forces who were struggling to restore order. The number of Christian fatalities is as yet unknown but it is believed to be over 100. Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that of the 500 Muslims to be arrested, most are outsiders who arrived days in advance and some were wearing fake military uniforms. Local Christian leaders believe the violence was pre-planned and that the Muslims had been waiting for an excuse to unleash it. There is real danger that anti-Christian violence could spread as Muslims seek revenge for the large Muslim death toll. The misleading and provocative reportage from swaths of international secular media makes this situation especially dangerous.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR

* the Christians in Jos who have lost their churches, their pastors or other loved ones: may they know the comfort of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:3-5); may they have inner healing from the Spirit (Isaiah 57:15); may their merciful heavenly Father deliver them from evil (Matthew 6:13) such as the danger of Islamic jihad and from the destructiveness of a bitter, unforgiving heart. ’He restores my soul.’ Psalm 23:3a ESV

* God to infiltrate President Umaru Yar Adua’s administration with heavenly wisdom and strength to tackle rising Islamic fundamentalism and the destructive intolerance and violence that it produces. (Proverbs 21:1)

* the Holy Spirit to flood the free and more prosperous churches of southern Nigeria with selfless love and a zeal for mission that compels them to witness to northern Muslims and serve their persecuted northern brethren. (Isaiah 58)

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE EXPLODES IN NIGERIA

A Muslim pogrom against Christians erupted in Jos, central Nigeria, last weekend after reports that the Christian-dominated People’s Democratic Party had won the council elections, defeating the Muslim, pro-Sharia All Nigeria Peoples Party. The Christian death toll is likely to be over 100. At least 16 churches have been burnt and four pastors are confirmed dead. Up to 400 Muslims died in clashes with police and security forces. Of the 500 Muslims arrested, most are outsiders who arrived days in advance, some wearing fake military uniforms. Local Christian leaders believe the violence was pre-planned and that the Muslims had been waiting for an excuse to unleash it. The danger is Muslims will seek revenge for the high Muslim death toll, especially as most media have failed to report that the rioters died fighting the security forces. Please pray.

OTHER URGENT PRAYER CONCERNS:

* THE INDIA-PAKISTAN CRISIS *

The Mumbai terror attack could soon be dwarfed by the crisis it has triggered. For political gain, the Hindu-nationalist BJP is exploiting mass anger and fear, accusing the Congress-led UPA government of failing the people, and exhorting the masses to vote BJP if they want security. The Indian government will be committing political suicide if it fails to deliver a strong response. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government is presently very weak and its army is fractured. The al-Qaeda-Taliban jihadists are snapping at the heels of Peshawar in the north-west with a view to capturing the city and cutting the vital NATO supply-line into Afghanistan. The government of Pakistan cannot fight on two fronts - if the army is forced to deploy to the Indian border, the north-west could fall to al-Qaeda-Taliban forces. This is a most serious (possibly al-Qaeda engineered) crisis to hit the South Asian subcontinent. Consequences for the region’s Church, and for global security, could be far-reaching. Please pray.

* NORTH KOREA REVERTS to ISOLATION *

For some time now the regime of Kim Jong-Il (who according to intelligence may have recently suffered a stroke) has been severely limiting public markets and trying to re-Stalinise the state. They have been tightening border security, cracking down on cross-border trade, mobile phones and religion (particularly amongst soldiers). On 1 December 2008 the cross-border rail-link (opened in May 2007) was shut down, tours of South Koreans to North Korea were halted and around half the South Korean staff at the Kaesong Industrial Park were sent home to South Korea. North Korea has reverted to isolation. This is a devastating blow for the suffering Church in North Korea. It is a desperate measure from a threatened regime. Violent repression and starvation are destined to escalate. Please pray.