VIDEO: Report exposes shocking deliberate targeting and killing of Christians

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The horrific massacres of Christians that no one is talking about…

From Fox News: The killing, persecution and displacement of Christians in Nigeria is “unrelenting” and “a time bomb”, according to a major new report.

Christians “are deliberately targeted”, as well as “Christian communities, their livelihood(s), faith leaders and places of worship”, according to the report by Open Doors International, a faith-based non-profit working to raise awareness of global persecution, aiming to mobilize prayer, support and action among Christians. Christians are reportedly becoming “an endangered species” there, the report says.

“Last year alone, in Nigeria there were more people that were killed because of their Christian faith than all other places in the globe combined,” Ryan Brown, the CEO Of Open Doors U.S., told Fox News Digital, adding “to be specific, there were 4998 Christians that were killed because of their faith in Nigeria last year.”

In testimonies recorded for the Open Doors International report, titled “No Road Home,” attacks on Christians are said to have been carried out by Islamist terror groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province, and predominantly Muslim Fulani militants, who originally were herdsmen.

One person interviewed in the report recalled, “When the Fulani gunmen came to attack, they could be heard shouting ‘Allahu Akbar (Allah is the greatest), we will destroy all Christians.'”

Another person added, “The Fulani started to shoot, burning houses. They burnt our animals and maize plants.”

According to others interviewed, many Christians are being forced to convert to Islam in order to just get food, or to preserve their livelihood.

The report states that a total of 16,769 Christians were killed in Nigeria, just from October 2019 to September 2023.

Open Doors US published an article Tuesday, along with a video documentary, sharing the story of Christian Pastor Benjamin Barnabas, whose community was attacked by Fulani militants, a group of Islamic extremists. His brother and sister-in-law were both killed in the attack, and he managed to survive simply because he ran toward a checkpoint where police were stationed.

WATCH the alarming 8-minute documentary below:

Below is an informative social media thread by the Christian Emergency Alliance:

Nigeria: Why were over 60 Christians murdered in a single attack earlier this month? Why are over 35,000 Christians – including women and kids – now displaced and hiding in the forest? And why do so few in the Global Church know about this atrocity?

First, let’s look at what happened. On August 8, 2024, 60 Christians were murdered in the community of Ayati by Fulani Islamists. Many more were grievously injured.

The militants arrived on motorbikes and opened fire indiscriminately on the townspeople. Women, children and babies were numbered among the lost. Christians attending a church service were likewise not spared.

In the wake of this attack, over 35,000 Christians (yes, 35,000!) fled their homes in terror and now hide out in the wild.

The attackers, who are still at large, did everything they could to eliminate the Christian presence in Ayati. After the assault, they dumped corpses into the community’s water wells. They even dumped poison into local ponds, to prevent the survivors from having a suitable water supply. These were acts of pure evil.

The once-vibrant farming community of Ayati sits about 120 miles northeast of Makurdi, the capital of Benue State. Roughly five years ago, jihadists – primarily from the Fulani tribe – began targeting the town, carrying out kidnappings and killings. Following the recent assault, Ayati languishes as a virtual ghost town, fear and despair hang in the air. Empty houses, abandoned kiosks and damaged churches mark the landscape.

Somewhere between 35 and 50 churches closed due to the recent terrorist attacks. Medical clinics in Ayati now sit silent, despite the huge needs among the Christian families hiding out in the bush.

Some Christian leaders have returned to Ayati despite the intense dangers. Evangelical pastors and Catholic priests hope their presence will encourage those ravaged by fear. They aim to inspire the Christians to return to their homes, businesses and churches.

As one leader shared: “The thought of over 30,000 people, including women and children, languishing in the bush without shelter or food is unbearable.” There are signs their efforts are paying off. Many traumatized villagers who sought refuge in the forest have emerged after seeing Christian leaders return to the town.

But why do so few of us know about the massacre of Ayati? Or of the numerous other massacres of Christians that have unfolded in recent years across Nigeria’s central and northern regions?

One reason is simply that the secular world doesn’t care that much. Only after the body counts reach epic levels do international outlets register a passing interest.

In much of the West, the prevailing narrative among influential institutions insists that Christians are “oppressors.” This false conclusion pours from the toxic intellectual cocktail that is cultural Marxism. Christians are branded as “oppressors” and other groups – like Muslims – are labeled as “the oppressed.” Stories that don’t fit neatly into that mold are ignored, presumably to preserve the false worldview.

Regardless, much of the world doesn’t know because the powerful prefer not to showcase the plight of Christians. While the secular world may not care, the Church must.

Even in Christian circles, it can be difficult to learn about such cases. Few report on these attacks, which can be difficult to discover and vet. There are serious risks accessing these locations and following up with those affected. It is critical that Christians find resources where they can keep their fingers on the pulse of their persecuted family.

We at the Christian Emergency Alliance aspire to help in this role. We also aim to bridge help between global Christians and those facing troubles. But we can only do this by partnering with others on the ground. We are grateful for courageous groups like Truth Nigeria that take risks to share the important but overlooked accounts.

Truth Nigeria’s Christian reporters risk much to report on stories many would prefer to stay quietly covered up. They share the truth, expose evil, and alert the Body to what is happening to their brothers and sisters in Christ throughout Nigeria’s north and Middle Belt.

Through our partners, we have been able to help get needed resources to the displaced Christians of Ayati. Reaching them was treacherous. Security is poor. But medical and other practical aid reached some of the needy.

Please pray for the Christians of Ayati. They need more help. Pray for the Christians across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions. May the Kingdom advance powerfully even where it is savaged.

The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.

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