Good Friday Lamentations & Action for Nigeria

Earlier this week, the Rt. Reverend Julian Dobbs, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, offered the following prayer on behalf of 51 Christian brothers and sisters, murdered by Jihadists between 12:00 midnight and 1:30 AM on April 14 in Zikke, Kwall District, Bassa, Plateau State.

Heavenly Father,

We remember before You the fifty-one brothers and sisters in Christ who were martyred in Nigeria for their faith. Comfort all who mourn their loss, and surround their families with Your peace that passes understanding. Strengthen Your persecuted Church, especially in Nigeria, and protect those who remain in danger. May the witness of these martyrs inspire many to steadfast faith and hope in Christ, who has conquered death.

We find solace in Your promise of resurrection and eternal life.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Victims of this slaughter ranged in age from little Jacob Moses, 3 years old, to the venerable elder Reuben Adamu, 94 years old. But this was just one of many massacres of Christians in this violence and Islamic jihad-fraught country so far this year.

Even as I write this, Thursday afternoon, jihadists are planning an attack on another Christian community. Truth Nigeria revels that on Thursday afternoon hundreds of armed Fulani militia arrived in Chito Precint, Ukum County in Benue State, North Central Nigeria. BENUE SECURITY ALERT: PLANNED TERRORISTS ATTACKS ON UKUM, OTHER SANKERA COUNTIES  – Truth Nigeria.

And then there’s courageous and faithful Nigerian Catholic bishop, Wilfred Anagbe. Bishop Anagbe recently testified before the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee. Now he is facing threats to his life from both Nigerian government officials and jihadists for speaking about the Christians’ situation in Nigeria. https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2025/04/15/bishop-anagbe-in-dc-testimony-warns-of-islamic-agenda-to-homogenize-nigerians/

As an American former Episcopalian whose parish was one welcomed into the Anglican Church of Nigeria when we had no other way to stay in the Anglican Communion, I am deeply grateful for the faithfulness of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. We should be well aware that this persecution of Nigeria’s Christians is not new. Attacks on churches, imposition of Sharia, killings of individuals – even mass slaughters – have been going on for decades on Christians of every denomination.

Satanic attacks on the Body of Christ in Nigeria are so virulent because the Body of Christ in Nigeria is so strong. It has made such in-roads for the Kingdom of God. Current suffering of Christians of all denominations in the northern and middle belts, and even now reaching into southern Nigeria is as never before.

These horrific attacks have caused massive displacement, which in turn has created more attacks in neighboring countries. What our Nigerian sisters and brothers in Christ go through because of Boko Haram and Fulani jihadists is overwhelming. Adding insult to injury, most Western media and foreign policy elites — as well as our previous Biden Administration and some State Department officials tend to portray the deliberate and systematic targeting of Christians by these groups as “clashes” between Christians and Muslims and as “disputes” between “herders” (with RPG’s and even more advanced weaponry) and farmers – caused by climate change!

Reports of these attacks come almost daily. What can we do? When we look at this situation, we feel helpless and that can paralyze us into doing nothing. That’s exactly what the Enemy wants. Then, even if there is something we can do – whether in the realm of spiritual warfare, political advocacy, or meeting human need – we remain passive.

I will follow up on this post with more specific suggestions of actions that we can take. These Christian sisters and brothers in Nigeria – as elsewhere – need those of us who have no threat of violence or fear of danger against us for following Christ to take up that God-given Galatians 6: 10 mandate. That is the responsibility that we have for persecuted Christians.

Persecution is overwhelming. But in some situations, like that explained above, and many others, there are tangible and effective actions that Christians blessed with more freedom and safety can take to help. We just have to overcome our passivity and feelings of helplessness.

• Scripture: Pray the Psalms, such as Psalm 20, with Nigeria in mind, and on your lips (PRAY ALOUD). “May the LORD hear you, brothers and sisters in Nigeria, in the day of trouble, the Name of the God of Jacob defend you from Boko Haram, Fulani jihadists, and all those who persecute you for His sake” and so on throughout that Psalm and others.
• Suggested Action: In my next post I will offer advocacy actions that you can take to make a difference for your persecuted brothers and sisters in Nigeria.
• Prayer: If you need an idea for prayer, here is a wonderful Prayer against Violence, borrowed from the late Reverend Cecil Kerr from the Christian Renewal Centre in Rostrevor, Northern Ireland:

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You that through Your death on the Cross You disarmed the powers of evil. Help us, we pray You, to enter into Your victory and to stand in Your authority against all evil. Send forth Your light and Your truth, O Lord. Bring to light the deeds of darkness and let plans of violence and murder be revealed. By the power of Your Holy Spirit convict those who have allowed their minds to be dominated by evil. Lead them, O Lord, to true repentance that they may receive Your new life and rejoice in Your forgiving love. Amen.