“Make ready for them all that you can of force and of warhorses, so that by them you may strike terror in the enemy of Allah and your enemy…” (Qur’an 8:60)
For families in Niger State, Nigeria, that command was not ancient text — it was lived reality. Late last night, suspected Boko Haram fighters swept through Borgu and Agwara local government areas, moving from village to village with gunfire and flame. At least 21 people were confirmed dead in Konkoso. Nearby communities Pissa, Zango, and Tungan Maƙeri were also attacked. Homes burned. Shops destroyed. Survivors fled into darkness.
This was not a battlefield engagement. It was civilians caught in ideological violence. For years, northern Nigeria has endured repeated assaults from extremist factions seeking to impose their worldview through terror. Farmers abandon fields. Families sleep lightly. Churches become targets. Entire communities live with the knowledge that nightfall may bring gunmen.
The only force strong enough to dismantle that narrative is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel does not strike terror into enemies, but it turns enemies into brothers. It does not command fear, but it produces freedom. It does not promise domination, but it calls for sacrificial love.
That is why we are urging our BTJ family to lean in during this season. If you have not yet read our “Bibles Not Bombs: A 30-Day Devotional,” we encourage you to do so. This devotional walks through the spiritual battle behind physical conflict and equips believers to pray strategically for worldview transformation in regions like Nigeria.
You can find it here:
Pray for the families of Konkoso, Pissa, Zango, and Tungan Maƙeri.
Pray for protection over believers in northern Nigeria.
Pray for boldness and wisdom for those carrying the Gospel into dangerous places.
And pray for worldview transformation — because until hearts change, the cycle continues.
