My prayer is that my Nigerian brethren in Christ Jesus do "not lose heart" (2 Cor. 4:16) in light of what's happening to them and that they respond bravely to their persecution.
12/26/2011 Nigeria (AFP)-Fear gripped Nigeria on Monday after a wave of Christmas bombings blamed on Islamists killed at least 40, including worshippers who were left begging for mercy as they exited a church.
Hundreds of residents sought to flee the violence-torn city of Damaturu on Monday fearing further attacks and clashes between Islamists and police, while some 30 Christian shops were burnt in the nearby city of Potiskum late Sunday.
At the damaged Saint TheresaCatholic Church in Madalla near the capital Abuja where the bloodiest attack took place, a special mass was held in memory of the 35 victims there despite splattered blood still visible on the outside.
"I have never cried before," Father Isaac Achi told the audience of several hundred which included bishops and priests from the region as well as the Vatican's representative to Nigeria.
"Yesterday I cried. This morning I cried. But with all of you around today, I will not cry again. Seeing you coming to say this mass, I'm telling you, I will not cry again."
The blast struck as the service was ending and worshippers were filing out.
Some of the wounded, including one man with a horrific stomach wound, ran toward a priest for final blessings. Some were burnt in their cars.
Nigeria has seen scores of attacks claimed by Islamist group Boko Haram, but some analysts said the bombings marked a dangerous escalation in a country divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
The government in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and its largest oil producer, blamed Islamist sect Boko Haram for three attacks on Sunday. In the central city of Jos, a church was targeted and a policeman was killed in a resulting shootout. A suicide blast also occurred in the restive northeastern city of Damaturu when the bomber sought to ram into a military convoy in front of a secret police office, killing himself and three security agents.
A third church was targeted in the northeast on Christmas Eve, but no one was reported killed. Residents reported another explosion near a church in the northeastern city of Maiduguri late Sunday, but an army spokesman denied it. In Damaturu on Monday, hundreds of residents sought to flee, lining up at taxi and bus stands amid momentary calm.
"The situation in the city is frightening," said a 42-year-old trader with his wife and three young children as he waited along the roadside. "You never can tell where will be the next target. Myhouse was burnt in the attacks."
In the nearby city of Potiskum, residents and a police source said about 30 Christian shops burned on Sunday night, while a supermarket and the home of a local Christian leader were also set ablaze.
Describing the bombing, National Security Adviser Owoye Azazi said attackers threw improvised explosive devices from a moving vehicle, adding that "two of the criminals had been apprehended, caught in action."
Oguche said no one was arrested and the blast occurred after a minibus pulled up near the church. He added that three police officers were among those killed(Source).
12/26/2011 Nigeria (AFP)-Fear gripped Nigeria on Monday after a wave of Christmas bombings blamed on Islamists killed at least 40, including worshippers who were left begging for mercy as they exited a church.
Hundreds of residents sought to flee the violence-torn city of Damaturu on Monday fearing further attacks and clashes between Islamists and police, while some 30 Christian shops were burnt in the nearby city of Potiskum late Sunday.
At the damaged Saint Theresa
"I have never cried before," Father Isaac Achi told the audience of several hundred which included bishops and priests from the region as well as the Vatican's representative to Nigeria.
"Yesterday I cried. This morning I cried. But with all of you around today, I will not cry again. Seeing you coming to say this mass, I'm telling you, I will not cry again."
The blast struck as the service was ending and worshippers were filing out.
Some of the wounded, including one man with a horrific stomach wound, ran toward a priest for final blessings. Some were burnt in their cars.
Nigeria has seen scores of attacks claimed by Islamist group Boko Haram, but some analysts said the bombings marked a dangerous escalation in a country divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
The government in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and its largest oil producer, blamed Islamist sect Boko Haram for three attacks on Sunday. In the central city of Jos, a church was targeted and a policeman was killed in a resulting shootout. A suicide blast also occurred in the restive northeastern city of Damaturu when the bomber sought to ram into a military convoy in front of a secret police office, killing himself and three security agents.
A third church was targeted in the northeast on Christmas Eve, but no one was reported killed. Residents reported another explosion near a church in the northeastern city of Maiduguri late Sunday, but an army spokesman denied it. In Damaturu on Monday, hundreds of residents sought to flee, lining up at taxi and bus stands amid momentary calm.
"The situation in the city is frightening," said a 42-year-old trader with his wife and three young children as he waited along the roadside. "You never can tell where will be the next target. My
In the nearby city of Potiskum, residents and a police source said about 30 Christian shops burned on Sunday night, while a supermarket and the home of a local Christian leader were also set ablaze.
Describing the bombing, National Security Adviser Owoye Azazi said attackers threw improvised explosive devices from a moving vehicle, adding that "two of the criminals had been apprehended, caught in action."
Oguche said no one was arrested and the blast occurred after a minibus pulled up near the church. He added that three police officers were among those killed(Source).
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