The jihadists first targeted a wedding and an area near a hospital and later, a funeral service for victims of the earlier attacks. One of the women held a baby as she detonated her bomb, killing them both.
“We are concerned about the resurgence of suicide bombing in our country and the threat it poses to the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians,” church leader Daniel Okoh said in a statement issued on behalf of Nigerian Christian leaders. “This senseless act of violence is a stark reminder of the evil that terrorism represents and the need for collective action to defeat it.”
Although no organization has claimed responsibility for these attacks, they are reportedly similar to previous acts of terrorism by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.
Experts say that terrorist organizations often use female suicide bombers because they are less likely to arouse suspicion and are considered less valuable. Although some female bombers may be genuinely radicalized, Boko Haram has been known to kidnap girls and force them to strap on explosives and carry out suicide missions.
Nigeria is known as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. According to the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, more than 52,000 Christians have been killed and more than 18,000 churches have been attacked or burned to ashes by Boko Haram and other extremists across northern Nigeria since 2009.
Please pray for the victims of terrorism in Nigeria. Ask for strength, comfort and healing both physical and spiritual for the survivors of these horrific attacks and for those who lost loved ones. Pray that Christians in Nigeria will remember these words found in Psalm 34:15-16: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.”
About the author
Chandler Peterson is a staff writer and editor for Global Christian Relief where she shares stories of Christian persecution. Read the latest Christian persecution stories on our website and learn more at GlobalChristianRelief.org.
