by Jordan Hilger, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Another African country is falling prey to jihadism, as Muslim extremist ideologies sweep across Burkina Faso, targeting Christians.
On June 27th armed militants entered the village of Bani with one specific aim: Find and eradicate the followers of Jesus.
Eventually, four men, David Zoungrana, Philippe Zoungrana, Theophile Ouedraogo, and Ernest Kassoaga were found wearing cross necklaces around their neck and executed.
“They weren’t afraid to make a public statement of their belief in an area known internationally for its display of seven adobe mosques–six of which are built at the top of Bani’s main hill,” said Lindy Lowry of Open Doors USA.
In May a team from the persecution watchdog group arrived in the predominantly Muslim country—of which 35%, however, is Christian—to assess the situation and gather prayer requests from the beleaguered church.
They learned that 27 believers were killed since February, with 158 jihadist attacks committed in 2018—up from 33 in 2017 and 12 in 2016—in a nation where Christians said they used to coexist peacefully with their Muslim neighbors.
Of 19 prayer requests the Open Doors team received, one stands out as an illustration of the herculean struggle faced by African Christians.
“Pray that Christians would not be tempted to give in to tribalism and anger towards Muslims, but would continue to trust the Lord to fight for them,” the believers asked the Open Doors team.
100,000 people have been displaced in the West African country by roving mobs of jihadists in the last few months alone, according to Open Doors.