27 Christians Killed for Their Faith Finally Laid to Rest

The bodies of 27 innocent Christian victims were finally laid to rest in Nigeria after they were brutally murdered two weeks go in a Muslim attack.

Around 11 pm on July 15, a band of Islamic jihadists brutally attacked Christians in their homes while they were sleeping. Men, women, and children were killed, many of them burned to death as Islamic Fulani herdsmen hacked at people and set their home on fire.

Local say that the authorities were warned an attack was coming only a few hours before, but did nothing. The Christians were attacked less than 200 meters from a military special task force checkpoint and the troops did not respond.

Rights activist, James Nyango, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, “The fact that this community noticed and reported the imminent attack to the STF military officers at that military checkpoint makes it more worrisome, suspicious and raises many questions.”

According to another local, Gideon Manjal, “The identities and hideouts of these attackers are known to authorities, yet no meaningful action has been taken to dismantle them.”

The funeral of these 27 Christians should remind us that there is a cycle of killing Christians in Nigeria that continues to go unmentioned.

If you would like to pray for the families by name, here are 26 of the 27 Christians identified:  Sarah Badung Bagit, Dorcas Badung Bagit, Nzen David Musa, Dusu Gyang Jok, Jere Pius Davou, Martha David Sunday, Esther David Sunday, Gorat David Sunday, Martha Solomon, Hudung Musa Dalyop, Hudaing Gyaus Fondong, Ruda Gyang Fondong, Patience Solomon Sunday, Patience Musa Dalyop, Danlami Tongs Davou, Tabitha Yakubu Shok, Magdalane Yakubu Shok, Patience Yakubu Shok, Bitrus Garba Danboyi, Nyou Tanko Ngyok, Monday Sunday Davou, John Tanko Ngyok, Darwang Tanko, Davou Bulus, Pam Dung and Esther Paul.

Of the 4,476 Christians killed for their faith worldwide during the reporting period last year, 3,100 or 69 percent were in martyred Nigeria.