Christian Pastor Dauda Bature was working peacefully on his farm when suddenly he was kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen.
His wife, also kidnapped, was released by God’s grace. She vowed to bring a ransom payment to free her husband.
She returned and paid the ransom for her husband’s life – but after the Fulani herdsmen took the payment, instead of freeing the Pastor, they killed him – and you won’t believe why.
The Pastor’s wife reported that while her husband was held hostage – instead of remaining silent, he used the opportunity to preach the Gospel to his kidnappers.
She believes her husband’s bold declaration of Jesus Christ as Lord enraged the Fulani herdsmen and caused them to murder her husband.
As the local Christian community in Nigeria mourned the loss of their beloved Pastor, those most familiar with the situation spoke on the ever-increasing persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Morning Star News reported:
“Nigeria led the world in number of kidnapped Christians last year with 990, according to Open Doors’ 2021 World Watch List report.
It was also the country with the most Christians killed for their faith last year (November 2019-October 2020), at 3,530, up from 1,350 in 2019, according to the report. In overall violence, Nigeria was second only to Pakistan, and it trailed only China in the number of churches attacked or closed, 270, according to the list.”
With so much persecution against Christians in Nigeria, the United States must be aware of the massive violation of religious freedom.
Instead of standing by our brothers and sisters in Nigeria, however, Biden removed Nigeria from the State Department’s list of countries of particular concern – which some claim was a political move.
Unthinkable.
Our hearts break over the violence against our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria.
We can’t imagine the sadness and grief they are experiencing as fellow believers continue to lose their lives.
The viciousness of Fulani herdsmen continues to increase rapidly – and includes taking the lives of children.
But through the killings and persecution, we know our God remains sovereign, and He is with His children always – even in their most horrific circumstances.
Please remember our Nigerian brothers and sisters in prayer, praying that God comforts them with a peace that surpasses all understanding.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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