Posted: 02/20/2014 at 10:18am | IP Logged

SURREY, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Last week at least 200 people were killed in Borno and Adamawa States in the north east of Nigeria in a series of terrorist attacks on rural areas.

While casualty figures from other villages are unknown, a survivor from Yazza told local media that he counted 25 corpses before he escaped.

The assault on Izghe is the latest in a series of terrorist attacks on villages since January, and came three days after the Nigerian Air Force began daily aerial bombardments to flush the sect out of its hideouts in the nearby Sambisa Forest on the Cameroonian border.

At least nine soldiers and an unknown number of militants died in a fierce and prolonged gun battle that followed the Feb. 12 bombardment.

On the evening of Feb. 11, Boko Haram gunmen launched a four-hour attack on Konduga in Borno State, destroying around 70 percent of the town, including homes, schools, clinics and the central mosque, and reportedly taking hostage 20 young women from a local college.

The death toll in the Konduga attack rose to 62 after four people died in hospital and five bodies were found in the bush.

CSW said that on Feb. 13, the gunmen reportedly attacked Konduga again, hours after a condolenc e visit by the Shehu of Borno. However, they were repelled by a combined force of soldiers and members of the youth vigilante group, the Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian-JTF).

Prior to this, the sect had attacked Mailari Village, located about 10 kilometers from Konduga, where they burnt homes and stores.

Boko Haram gunmen also launched an attack on Wajirko Village, also in Borno State, killing four people, injuring an estimated six people, and destroying as many as 50 homes.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said in the news release, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in these senseless attacks. While the efforts of the Nigerian military to tackle Boko Haram's presence in the border areas with Cameroon are to be welcomed, we echo local calls for a surge in numbers in order to stem the sect's violent campaign in rural areas, which remain soft targets."

He added, "Nigeria is a strategic nation, thus it is vital that members of int ernational community render every possible assistance to enable the country to counter this growing threat to peace and security in the region. It is also important for neighboring states to assist by reinforcing security on their borders and denying Boko Haram a hiding place as a matter of urgency."

Christian Solidarity Worldwide works for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

For more information visit www.csw.org.uk.

Source: Assist News Service

Posted: 02/20/2014 at 10:35am | IP Logged

Latest Boko Haram attacks include Christian village

Borno State of Nigeria (Photo from Wikimedia commons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nigeria _Borno_State_map.png)

Nigeria (MNN) — Killing over 100 people, the Boko Haram are suspected in the attack of a small farming village, Izghe, in Borno, Nigeria. E3 Partners says that the goal of the Boko Haram is to create a strict Islamic state. The mostly-Christian village of Izghe was an obvious target this past Saturday.

According to CNN, male residents of the village were the main target of shootings Saturday evening. Nearby villages were heavily evacuated, and Izghe looted and burned.

AllAfrica.com sheds some light on the frustration of the locals. So far, little if any action has been taken by the government to deal with the constant attacks in that area, and members of the community are speaking out. Many villagers are still missing as a result of the invasion. One resident estimates that nearly 100 terrorists came into the village with sophisticated weapons.

Nigeria is #14 on the Open Doors World Watch List.

CNN reports that a second attack occurred earlier during the day in the fishing village, Doron Baga. Again, the culprits were suspected to be the Boko Haram.

E3 is praying for these Christians. Posted on their 8Thirty8 page yesterday: “Thank You, Lord, that in difficult times, ‘Your light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ We claim this, this morning.”

Would you join with E3 in prayer this week?

Source: Mission Network News