by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - As Fulani jihadists continue their sustained campaign of terror attacks against Christians in Nigeria, they have now attacked and destroyed a Christian orphanage in the country’s Plateau state, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
All 147 children who lived at the school were safely out of the building during the August 2 attack. However, they have been dispersed, ICC said. The orphanage building was destroyed beyond use.
Rights groups have been warning of a Christian genocide in Nigeria at the hands of Fulani jihadist herdsmen primarily, but also Boko Haram. And the US State Department has added Nigeria to its list of Countries of Particular Concern for tolerating “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.” However, locals have reported that governments do not appear to be listening.
While the Nigerian government has downplayed the conflict between Fulani herdsmen and Christians as being a battle of land, rights groups like ICC have long reported that jihad underlies the attacks on Christian communities: their aim is to suppress Christianity in the country. Nearly 4,000 Christians were murdered in the first half of 2021 alone.
Requesting prayer over the situation, ICC asked in their report: “Please pray for peace in Nigeria, and for the Lord to comfort those grieving the loss of loved ones due to violence. Please also pray for the perpetrators of this attack, that they will be blessed with knowing the truth of the gospel and accept Jesus as their savior.”