Nigerian Christians

Worshippers hold candles and pray in Abuja during a vigil on May 15, calling for the release of Nigerian schoolgirls abducted in Chibok. (Photo courtesy of BCNN1)

Pray for end of terrorism

Baptists joined other Christians in Nigeria on May 15 to pray for the end of terrorist activities in the West African country.

Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, president and CEO of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) and vice president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said CAN “declared a national day of prayer and fasting to stem the tide of the terrorist activities in general and the return of the Chibok girls in particular.” The “Chibok girls” refer to approximately 276 female students who were kidnapped from a school in the town of Chibok in Borno State between April 14 and 15. The kidnappings were claimed by Boko Haram, an Islamic Jihadist and terrorist organization based in northeast Nigeria.

Thousands of people have been killed in attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram. Since 2010, the group has targeted schools, killing hundreds of students. Boko Haram’s attacks intensified in 2014 and have been blamed for approximately 4,000 deaths since the beginning of the year. Ayokunle said Baptists “observed the prayer and fasting with other Christians at the National Christian Center in Abuja,” Nigeria’s capital city, while the approximately 10,000 affiliated churches of NBC were expected to engage in prayer as well.

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Above: A truck promotes the #BringBackOurGirls hash tag in Nigeria

used by protesters of the 2014 Chibok kidnapping. (Photo courtesy of Voice of America)

Above Right: Parents of some of the victims of the 2014 Chibok kidnapping mourn their losses. (Photo courtesy of Voice of America)

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