There have been further attacks against Christians in Nigeria. Raiders killed 37 Christians in the central Plateau State on Tuesday. A further 34 have been killed in Borno State in the north-east in the past month.
Church leaders say the attacks in the north were carried out directly by Islamist terror group Boko Haram, while those in central Nigeria were carried out at their instigation.
Press reports say Boko Haram have forced 8,000 Christians to flee, and many who remain are no longer able to worship in public. According to the US-based Hudson Institute Boko Haram has killed at least 900 Christians in the past year. Their stated aim is to impose fundamentalist Islamic law in Nigeria.
Release has launched a Christmas appeal to help the victims of violence in Nigeria by providing emergency medical treatment for those suffering serious injury. Release and its partners are also organising trauma-healing workshops. For more information on the Christmas Appeal Heal the Wounded, go to
Releaseinternational.org
Release International, which supports persecuted Christians around the world, has been hearing from victims of attacks in Nigeria. Their radio report, including a full transcript, is available for download from:
here
Through its international network of missions Release International serves persecuted Christians in more than 30 countries around the world, by: supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles; and working for justice.
