GUNMEN MASSACRE CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIAN CHURCH: Pastor Kidnapped, Two Dead During Evening Service
Gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, central Nigeria's Kwara state, on Tuesday evening, killing at least two people and kidnapping the pastor and several worshippers.
Police responded to gunfire at around 6 p.m. and discovered one person fatally shot inside the church and another in a nearby bush. Witnesses said they counted at least three dead church members.
"They later rounded up some worshippers, including the pastor, and took them into the bush parishioner Joseph Bitrus told Reuters, without saying how many were taken. A video posted by a local news outlet and verified by Reuters showed the Christ Apostolic Church service being interrupted by gunfire, forcing parishioners to take cover.
The assault sent the community into panic, with residents and travelers fleeing into nearby bushes for safety.
The attack came just days after 25 girls were abducted from the predominantly Muslim Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in northwestern Kebbi state on Monday.
Gunmen scaled the fence of the school grounds and exchanged gunfire with police officers before taking the girls and killing a staff member.
President Bola Tinubu postponed a planned trip to South Africa and Angola for G20 and AU-EU summits to receive security briefings on the two attacks, and ordered more security to hunt down the assailants in Kwara. Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq praised Tinubu for the deployment of 900 additional troops there.
The attack puts more pressure on the government, which is under scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump who has threatened military action over what he says is persecution of Christians. President Trump has designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern amid escalating violence against Christians in the West African nation.
On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event highlighting the ongoing violence in Nigeria, calling the killings of Christians in Nigeria "genocide wearing the mask of chaos". "There is a body of evidence that paints a very grim picture of disproportionate suffering among Christians, where families are torn apart, clergy is repeatedly assassinated, and entire congregations," Waltz said. "Folks, we have an entire faith that is being erased, one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time".
Rap superstar Nicki Minaj spoke at Waltz's event, stating "In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned. Families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray".
The government says the U.S. designation of Nigeria as "a country of particular concern" misrepresents its complex security challenges and does not take into account its efforts to safeguard freedom of religion for all.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
They stormed the church during evening service. Shot worshippers where they prayed. Kidnapped the pastor. Dragged congregants into the bush. At least three dead.
Tuesday in Nigeria. Another day ending in Christian blood.
Ambassador Waltz called it what it is. Genocide wearing the mask of chaos. One bullet at a time. One torched Bible at a time. An entire faith being erased.
The Nigerian government says Trump "misrepresents" their security challenges. Meanwhile Christians are gunned down mid-worship. Pastors disappear into the bush. 25 schoolgirls kidnapped. A staff member murdered.
But sure. It's complicated.
President Tinubu canceled his G20 trip. Deployed 900 troops. Ordered security briefings. Which is what happens when Trump threatens military action.
Suddenly Nigeria remembers Christians exist.
Notice the pattern across Africa? Armed gangs. Islamist insurgents. "Clashes" between Muslim herders and Christian farmers. All conveniently killing Christians.
The attacks happen every week. But Western media barely covers them. Until Nicki Minaj stands at the UN and says what everyone knows. Christians are being targeted because of how they pray.
This isn't random banditry. Bandits don't storm churches during service. They don't specifically kidnap pastors. They don't leave Muslims untouched while slaughtering Christians.
This is systematic elimination.
Trump designated Nigeria a country of particular concern. The State Department's strongest classification. And backed it with threats of military intervention.
Finally. Someone willing to say genocide and mean it.
Three Christians dead in Eruku. 25 girls kidnapped in Kebbi. Countless others disappeared into the bush.
While Nigeria lectures America about "misrepresenting" their problems.
TAKE ACTION
Support Nigerian Christians Under Attack
- Voice of the Martyrs – Direct aid to persecuted Nigerian Christians and church families
Website: www.persecution.com | Phone: 918-337-8015 - Open Doors USA – Emergency relief and long-term support for Nigerian believers
Website: www.opendoorsusa.org | Phone: 888-524-2535 - International Christian Concern – Advocacy and assistance for Nigerian church attack survivors
Website: www.persecution.org - Contact Your Representatives – Demand continued pressure on Nigeria and support for Trump's designation as a Country of Particular Concern
- Samaritan's Purse – Emergency response teams assisting Nigerian Christian communities
Website: www.samaritanspurse.org | Phone: 828-262-1980 - Pray – For the kidnapped pastor and worshippers from Eruku, for the 25 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi, for protection over Nigerian churches, and for justice against those committing genocide
DEUS VULT
