Churches Damaged in Nigeria During Easter Attacks

Last week we asked you to pray for Christians over this past weekend due to the celebration of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus, since it is common for Christians to be attacked in nations hostile to Christianity.

Sadly, over the weekend, there was a suicide attack in Nigeria.  The Washington Post reported that churches were the original target for one suicide bomber...

Sunday’s blast struck the capital of Kaduna state, apparently after the suicide bomber turned away from attacking a church holding a morning Easter service. The car exploded at a busy junction about 200 meters (yards) away, tearing apart makeshift restaurants made of discarded lumber there serving cheap rice patties to the city’s working poor.

Compass Direct is reporting the following:

Repelled by church security, suspected Islamic extremist detonates blast at nearby taxi stand.

KADUNA, Nigeria, April 9 (CDN) — Churches celebrating Easter services were the targets of a suicide bomber who killed at least 38 people yesterday in Kaduna city in northern Nigeria, sources said.

Security personnel at one of the church buildings blocked the bomber, believed to belong to the Boko Haram Islamic sect, who then decided to detonate his explosives in the street at a nearby motorcycle taxi center, the sources said. Dozens of people were injured in addition to those killed.
 
The bombs damaged the buildings of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Good News church and the All Nations Christian Assembly, besides blasting off roofs from homes and hotels and destroying vehicles. Located on the same street, Gwari Road, are the Redeemed Christian Church of God and an Assemblies of God church.

Full story here.

Thank you for praying during this past weekend for the persecuted church.  Please keep praying for those who are persecuting the church and for those members of the church who are suffering for Jesus.