Muslims kill almost 200 in Nigeria on Christmas Eve

 Suspected Nigerian Fulani militias attacked 21 Christian villages in the Bokkos,  Barkin Ladi, and Mangu counties of Plateau State on Christmas Eve, killing nearly 200 villagers according to government officials and humanitarian groups. The number of dead is expected to rise as families continue to search for missing loved ones. 

On Thursday, Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communication Hon. Musa Ashoms reported 195 people killed during the Christmas Eve attacks, and villagers were still missing. He told communities to defend themselves and take up arms as needed.  

Amnesty International Nigeria reported 194 people killed in Plateau State including 148 in Bokkos, 27 in Barkin Ladi, and 19 in Mangu. The Nigerian Red Cross reported 161 deaths and 32,604 people affected. The attack touched 84 communities in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi and left 29,350 people displaced. In addition, 301 people were injured and 27 houses burned. 

Witnesses said that scant security was present to repel the attacks that lasted more than seven hours. 

“More dead bodies were found in the bush today,” said Timothy, a local from Mbar village in Bokkos County. “Yes, my village was attacked on Christmas Eve, and other villages close to my community. Many houses were burnt including my church. I can’t say how many people were killed but we found more dead bodies today and we are looking for missing ones.” 

Naomi, a resident of Mayong, lost four family members in the attack and fled to an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp. “My house was burnt, and I mourned on Christmas day,” she said. 

Ezekiel Peter Bini Condole, president of the Irigwe Youth Development Association covering Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu called on Nigeria President Bola Tinubu to do more to protect Christians. He said that Christians in Plateau State should be compensated by the government for their losses. Condole added that there are threats of more attacks to wipe out Christians, and he called on U.S. President Joe Biden to pressure Nigeria’s leaders to stop the killings. 

Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places for Christians, particularly in the Middle Belt region. International Christian Concern (ICC) listed Nigeria in its annual Persecutors of the Year report the last three years. More than 50,000 Christians have been killed in the Middle Belt region over the past 20 years, and millions have been displaced. 

For interviews, please contact:  press@persecution.org. 

Have you ever wondered why Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are crappy countries?

 In countries like Myanmar and Nigeria, acts of persecution against Christians are more likely to make news reports because of their extreme violence. But in many other locations, persecution typically takes on a more subtle form. It likely won’t make any media outlet and might not have any documentation at all. But it’s still an ever-present issue that diminishes the quality of life for many Christians.  

One place where such persecution occurs is Bangladesh, a South Asian nation with an overall population of 170 million, where over 90% of the people are Muslim and most of the remaining portion are Hindu.  

Thomas (real name withheld to protect identity), a Christian in Bangladesh, says that many people “express their desire for conversion” to Christianity, but they don’t follow through with it due to “threats of killing and persecution.” 

Many children in Bangladesh “grow up with a nasty mentality to hate other faiths,” says Thomas. In the villages, these children often target the Christian families “to steal and destroy farms and gardens.” He adds that when Christians protest such behavior, then things become more aggressive.  

In the cities, says Thomas, anti-Christian sentiment can surface through harassment from non-Christian employees or having non-Christian employees refuse to cooperate with the Christian employee. The Christian employee might also get stuck with job duties on a Sunday, so that they might have to choose between attending church or keeping their job.  

Thomas isn’t sure exactly what percent of Bangladeshi Muslims support acts of persecution against Christians. He says, though, that it doesn’t take much to spoil the “full bucket of milk.” 

He gives the example in which you might have “just one person doing anti-Christian activities in a large Muslim family.” Maybe the other family members “silently support it,” or maybe they themselves “are also afraid” of their hostile family member. It can be very difficult for an outsider to determine which case is the reality. But either way, nobody discourages the person from acting on his hostility.  

Thomas says that “anti-Christian mentality is present throughout” the country among Muslims who are either uneducated or who study in fundamentalist madrassas which teach that Bengali is not a Muslim language, and that Islam is the only legitimate religion. “It’s enough to make a soft brain child into a violent fanatic,” says Thomas. 

Rates of Christianity are much higher among indigenous ethnic minorities in Bangladesh. Thomas says these indigenous Christians are typically “very humble and hospitable,” especially to a wandering laborer “who comes very helplessly to work in the area.” 

Thomas shares a scenario in which a Muslim might come to a Christian household to do agricultural work. The Christian family might give the Muslim some land to live on. Then, the Muslim “calls other relatives and builds a mosque with bamboo.” 

At this point, the guest might start to act like he’s the owner. Thomas says then “they become a threat to local people … they take away crops, steal fruits and vegetables, make a chaos without any cause.” At this point, the host family will have “lost their inner silence,” he adds. 

As for legal recourse, Thomas says how “without a complaint, the police have no responsibilities. And if you go to complain, you have to pay an official fee with a big bundle.”  Then, the police want evidence. “How do you show bullying and tricking?” asks Thomas.  

People tend to view filing a criminal complaint as a major source of harassment. As Thomas explains, “If the police call you to the station, you lose your daily wage and maybe even your job.” And “if the police come to your home, you need to make them happy with some external hospitality, otherwise the report will be against you.” 

“Sometimes, the village chief or higher authority supports people against the Christians,” says Randall (real name withheld to protect identity), a pastor from northern Bangladesh. He adds that Christian converts from Muslim backgrounds have a slim chance at receiving fair treatment.  

Bangladesh’s secular federal government has expressed its concern about Islamic extremism, but Randall feels that the effort they make about persecution is “not fruitful action.”

In Randall’s view, “above 90 percent of Bangladeshi Muslims support acts of persecution against Christians.” He estimates that about half of Bangladeshi Hindus support such acts. 

Another South Asian nation, Sri Lanka, has an unusual degree of religious diversity, with four major religions forming considerable percentages of the population (about 70% Buddhist, a bit more than 10% Hindu, and Christians and Muslims each a bit under 10%). 

Aside from the catastrophic 2019 Easter bombings that struck multiple churches and luxury resorts, persecution of Sri Lanka’s Christians typically isn’t of the sort that makes headlines. And yet, it can be a constant issue. 

Elias (real name withheld to protect identity), a Catholic in northern Sri Lanka, says he doesn’t know of any cases of Sri Lankans having their land taken specifically because of their Christian faith.  

“But when it comes to the workplace, [Sri Lankan] Christians face a lot of challenges,” he says. “They need to work harder than the other laborers to survive in that workplace.” And in many cases, “They’re unable to reach the top positions even if they have talents to lead,” he adds.  

Persecution against Christians in Sri Lanka is often linked to Buddhist nationalism that is prominent among the majority ethnic group, known as the Sinhalese.  

But Elias says that Sri Lanka’s Muslims persecute against Christians in a way that is disproportionately stronger than the part of the overall population they form. This type of persecution, he says, is more pronounced on the country’s eastern coast, which has a higher Muslim population.  

Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, with its overwhelming Muslim majority, some Christians are compelled to “depend on Muslim lawyers to fight against [other] Muslims” who have taken their land by coercion or with fake documents, says Thomas. These lawyers “are very clever,” he adds. They “take away money from the Christians” and then work on behalf of the Muslims.  

Thomas feels that Christians are powerless to solve this problem either legally or illegally. “So, it stays as is.”  

Making their way to Christian households are the next round of itinerant laborers. As Thomas describes, “They come as a humble cat and then become a tiger.” 

For interviews, please contact:  press@persecution.org. 

IDF bombs Christian church in Gaza

 An explosion Thursday night at St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City destroyed the church’s assembly hall, injuring and killing dozens of people inside.  

At least 500 people, including many of Gaza’s small Christian minority, have been sheltering in the church since the war began. The explosion killed at least 40 people, including 19 Christians, according to preliminary reports. 

Neither side of the conflict has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. Gaza authorities state that it was an Israeli airstrike, while Israel has not yet made a statement at the time of reporting. International Christian Concern continues to monitor the situation as more information becomes known and verified. 

St. Porphyrius is an ancient church, with the church’s original site dating to the 5th century AD. It is the largest of the three churches still open in the Gaza Strip and one of the main locations where Gaza’s Christian community have been sheltering during the war, believing it to be one of the last safe places in Gaza. 

The church is administered by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which issued an official statement after the strike on their church in Gaza:  

“Despite the evident targeting of the facilities and shelters of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and other churches – including the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem Hospital, other schools, and social institutions – the Patriarchate, along with the other churches, remain committed to fulfilling its religious and moral duty in providing assistance, support, and refuge to those in need, amidst continuous Israeli demands to evacuate these institutions of civilians and the pressures exerted on the churches in this regard. The Patriarchate stresses that it will not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty, rooted in its Christian values, to provide all that is necessary in times of war and peace alike.” 

For interviews, please contact:  press@persecution.org. 

People sheltering in two churches in Gaza

 While the bombardment of Hamas continues in the Gaza Strip, the small contingent of Christians there is sheltering in two churches. They, like many citizens in Gaza, wonder if they will live through this crisis. 

The past ten days have been filled with horror for southern Israel and for Gaza – hundreds were reportedly killed on Tuesday when a missile struck a hospital in northern Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war began when Hamas executed the deadliest single terrorist attack in Israel’s 75-year history.

The initial Hamas attack has been retaliated by Israel through nonstop bombardment and a complete blockade on the more than 2 million populated Gaza Strip. Thousands of civilians have been killed in the war, and international negotiations to allow critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through Egypt’s Rafah crossing have so far been unsuccessful.  

Gaza’s small Christian community has been sheltering in two churches in Gaza City during this week’s Israeli bombardment. Both churches lie within north Gaza, the area that the Israeli military has ordered civilians to leave in preparation for an expected ground invasion.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has been made aware of the churches and Christians’ presence in the area. IDF leaders have told private sources that they will protect and ensure that the churches do not become targets in the war.  

Gaza’s civilian population must be protected in this latest escalation of the Hamas-Israel war. Gaza’s churches must not become targets of war, and people taking refuge inside the churches must be protected.  

Political challenges and conflict in recent decades have threatened the continued survival of the Gazan church and its estimated 1,000 Christians who face persecution. 

For interviews, please contact:  press@persecution.org. 

Myanmar military bomb refugee camps

The Burmese military, known as the Tatmadaw, bombed a refugee camp in the northern state of Kachin this week. The strike killed 29 and wounded 55, according to the Kachin rebel group as reported in the New York Times.

The military has killed 4,146 civilians, including 472 children, since it seized the country in a February 2021 coup and arrested 25,300, according to the rights group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

When the military took over the government in 2021, it promised that it would quickly conduct free and fair elections. It has broken that promise and self-imposed deadlines several times since, and analysts believe that the Tatmadaw could not conduct an election today given its tenuous control of the country.

Recent reports suggest that anti-junta militias have gained significant ground in recent months, reducing the area under solid Tatmadaw control to as little as 17%, according to the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar.

In September, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), a regional bloc, voted to remove Myanmar from its scheduled chairmanship in 2026, replacing the country with the Philippines. ASEAN has consistently voiced its disapproval of Tatmadaw’s usurpation of the government.

Myanmar is a patchwork mosaic of ethnic and religious groups. Though a strong majority of the population is ethnic Burman, and an even greater percentage is Buddhist. The communities that make up the rest are well-established, well-organized, and mostly predate the formation of the modern state by centuries.

The Tatmadaw has long persecuted Rohingya Muslims and ethnic minority Christians including with bombings of civilians, torture, and attempts to forcefully convert minorities to Buddhism.

In many cases, Myanmar’s ethnic minorities have taken on a distinct religious identity as well. About 20-30% of ethnic Karen are Christians, while other groups—such as the Chin—are more than 90% Christian. This overlap of ethnic and religious identity has created a volatile situation for believers. In Chin State, for example, most of the population is Christian, creating a target-rich area for the military.

Many refugees from Myanmar flee directly across the western border into India and Bangladesh or across the eastern border into Thailand. Some end up resettling as far away as the United States and Australia, while many others face decades of uncertainty in massive refugee camps closer to Myanmar.

For interviews, please contact:  press@persecution.org.  

Muslims burn down Catholic church and kills one in Kaduna state

Suspected Muslim terrorists attacked and burned a Catholic seminary in Kaduna State, Nigeria on Friday and killed a young seminarian who was trapped in the fire.

The attack occurred at the rectory and house of St. Rachael’s Parish in Fadan Kamantan. Two priests escaped the blaze, but seminarian Naam Ngofe Danladi perished. A Catholic church representative said they were warned before the attack, and they contacted authorities. The military, however, arrived after the assailants fled and the church was destroyed.

Kaduna State Gov. Uba Sani vowed to bring the assailants to justice.

Rev. John Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter, issued a statement on Saturday, saying “our hearts are filled with pains” over the incident:

“It is no longer news that armed men invaded a Catholic Church Parish Headquarters located at Fadan Kamantan community and the criminals targeted the Parish Priest’s residence … the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okolo who also doubles as the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, and his assistant were able to escape out of the house before the criminals set the entire Rectory ablaze burning to death a Seminarian Bro. Naam Ngofe Danladi who is just about completing his training into the Catholic Priesthood.

"What is disheartening about this particular attack is the fact that the place of attack is just by the Kaduna – Kafanchan Major highway with a military checkpoint not far from the Parish. The Parish is located at the heart of Kamantan town, and the attack was carried out at about 8:00 p.m. This causes us to wonder some more, ‘Where is the hope, how much more terrible could the situation get?’

“We appreciate the willingness of the present administration to proffer practical, real and lasting solutions to the security challenge in Kaduna State as made visible by the ongoing recruitment process of over 7,000 men and women into the Kaduna State Vigilante Services (KADVIS).

“In the light of sharing in the faith of the perceived goodwill of the present administration in Kaduna State, we invite the Governor of Kaduna State and all relevant stakeholders to immediately swing into action and ensure that those responsible for the Kamantan evil night are apprehended and made to face the law.

“Security is everyone’s business; it is disappointing that this kind of unholy activity could be recorded at the heart of the Fadan Kamantan community, and the criminals will operate unchallenged. It is a slap to the security forces within that jurisdiction, it is a slap to the religious leaders, traditional and community leaders."

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

 

7 churches attacked in Nepal over the past 2 weeks

 An attack on a church in Nepal’s Lumbini Province on Monday was just the latest in a string of recent violence against Christians in the country. The church is in the southern Nawalparasi district of Lumbini along the border with India’s Uttar Pradesh state and was one of two churches in the same town that were vandalized over the weekend.

Photos and videos reviewed by International Christian Concern (ICC) showed broken windows and other signs of violence around the property, including damage to fences and a broken motorbike. Another photo shared on social media showed two men, identified as pastors, being assaulted on the street. Gathered locals appear to have smeared the pastors’ faces with a sticky black substance in an act described by ICC contacts as a cultural sign of hatred and disrespect.

ICC has learned that the attacks in Lumbini are the sixth and seventh such attacks against churches in Nepal in the last two weeks. “It’s spreading like wildfire,” a Nepalese civil society leader said about the recent spate of attacks. Perpetrators, seeing little to no response from the authorities in recent weeks, “are encouraged to act more,” he told ICC.

News of another incident of men assaulting Christians, this time in Janakpur, emerged on Tuesday as word of Monday’s attack on the two pastors spread.

“Nepal has long been on our radar for its persecution of Christians and hypocrisy related to religious freedom,” said ICC President Jeff King. “Nepalese citizens have the right to practice their faith according to the constitution as long as they keep that faith to themselves. Any proselytizing can bring significant persecution and consequences.” 

In Kathmandu, the country’s capital city, two men were apparently arrested and taken to court for street preaching. Though the country’s constitution ostensibly protects religious freedom, it does so in vague enough terms to allow a law today that criminalizes proselytization. Chapter 19 of the Muluki Ain, or general code of Nepal, states that “no one shall propagate any religion in such manner as to undermine the religion of other nor shall cause other to convert his or her religion.”

Religious minorities are regularly arrested and charged under this law, which goes beyond its neighbor India’s bans on forced conversions to criminalizing participation in the act of conversion in any form. In Nepal, proselytization carries with it the threat of up to six years in prison and subsequent deportation in the case of foreigners.

The U.S. Department of State highlighted its concerns with Nepal’s anti-conversion and anti-proselytization laws in a report published earlier this year. “Multiple religious groups in the country,” the report stated, “[continue] to reiterate that the constitutional and criminal code provisions governing religious conversion and proselytism [are] vague and contradictory and [open] the door for prosecution for actions carried out in the normal course of practicing one’s religion.”

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Fulani militants kill 21 overnight in Nigeria

 Despite warnings of an attack earlier in the week and the presence of security guards, 21 villagers were killed by suspected radical Fulani militants in north-central Nigeria on Thursday night.

Witnesses say gunmen slipped into the Heipang community village and opened fire between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m. Most of the victims were internally displaced persons (IDP) who had fled earlier violence. Heipang is in the Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau State.

“This is the third armed attack on the community which has enjoyed relative peace for years,” said one community leader.

The Heipang community has lost more than 100 villagers in attacks over the past two decades, with no arrests. Villagers in Heipang and Mangu blame radicalized Fulani militants and herders for causing the attacks on the mostly Christian farming communities.

They say the government is complicit and unable to prevent the attacks – a common thread in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region that has been rocked by violence with tens of thousands of Christians killed over the past 20 years.

Plateau State Gov. Caleb Mutfwang expressed his condolences and strongly condemned the attack.

Another al-Shabaab attack in Kenya

 Al-Shabaab militants ambushed vehicles, killed one person, and injured 10 others in Lamu, Kenya, on August 1.  

“Today at approximately 7:40 a.m., suspected terrorists attacked travelers along the Lamu-Witu-Garsen highways where one person was killed and 10 injured, while a yet-to-be-determined number are missing,” said the Kenyan Minister for Interior and National Administration.  

Security reports that approximately 60 members of the Somali-based al-Qaida-allied terrorist group stopped vehicles and motorcycles in the remote area, fully armed, ready to carry out a massive attack.

One of the security personnel who responded to the attack told ICC, “We were notified by the first survivors that arrived on a vehicle damaged in the rear by bullets. We responded rapidly, and a gun battle ensued. We managed to scatter the large groups of terrorists into the nearby Boni Forest. We thank God that He used the survivors to report to us. It would have been one of the deadliest al-Shabaab attacks in recent years.”  

One of the vehicles sprayed with bullets belonged to a local member of the County Assembly, who was traveling with his wife and children. They were evaluated and taken to the hospital, where his wife succumbed to bullet wounds as they were receiving treatment. 

Today’s attack comes barely three weeks after one person was killed and seven houses set on fire by terrorists that attacked internally displaced people (IDPs) taking shelter at a camp in Juhudi due to the ongoing security threat in Lamu.

In a separate incident, the Al-Shabaab militia earlier today detonated an improvised explosive device and fired assault weapons targeting a passenger bus in Mandera, injuring one civilian.  

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Fulani militants are out here killing babies

 Suspected Fulani militants killed eight people, including an eight-month-old baby girl, Sunday night in the Vwang District of Jos.  

The gunmen raided the village, shooting sporadically at the victims who were headed home for the night. The eight-month-old and her father were returning from the hospital when they were gunned down.  

This attack comes as communities in central and northern Nigeria have faced rising terrorist attacks.  

"[The Fulani militants] continue to unleash terror on innocent citizens in the communities of Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau state in renewed attacks since after 2023 General Elections,” said the National Publicity Secretary of Berom Youth Movement in a statement.  

The Fulani, who are majority Muslim, is the world’s largest nomadic ethnic group. While most Fulani lives at peace with their neighbors, militant Fulanis, radicalized by extreme Islam, have emerged from their people group with jihadist intent.       

Radicalized and armed Islamist Fulani have killed tens of thousands of Christians and left more than three million homeless in a 20-year genocide against them.  

“Christian communities in the Middle Belt of Nigeria have effectively suffered a twenty-year-long genocide,” said ICC President Jeff King. “Where is the outcry? Where is effective action? In Nigeria, the military, the police, and the intelligence agencies are all controlled by Muslims. This, coupled with a 20-year lack of response by these agencies, should naturally lead to deeper questioning by the international community.  Simply put, the time for cheap talk and platitudes is over. The world is waking up and asking, ‘Is the Nigerian government complicit in these attacks.’”  

Please pray for peace in the affected communities, and pray for the families of the victims.  

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

One dead after Muslims attack church in Uganda with machetes

 Suspected Islamic extremists stormed Katikara Anglican Church in Kakumiro District, western Uganda, hacking a church member to death and leaving several others injured on Tuesday.  

Kamumiro Police Chief confirmed the midnight incident saying, ‘‘People were attending overnight prayers when the attack happened. After the night prayers, they decided to sleep in the church. However, shortly after sleeping, people armed with pangas raided the church and started randomly hacking members of the congregation. One died on the spot, while others are nursing grave injuries. Others fled the church to save their lives.’’ 

Lias Mugume, who had been leading overnight prayers, died after he was hacked severally by the armed extremists. A witness said, “When we were done with the prayers, we slept on the pews to wait for the morning. The priest went to sleep in his house just next to the church. Suddenly, three men broke into the church and started slashing people with machetes. The first person they found near the door was Brother Mugume, who was leading us in the prayer session. He had dozed off near the door. They hacked him to death. Eight other people were also attacked, but the assailants left before we could get help.” 

Those injured were rushed to the hospital, where they are receiving treatment. The motive of the attack is yet to be established. Local church leaders say that tension between churches and the local Muslim community has been building over time, and this could be a terrorist attack. 

“The police cannot quickly ascertain the nature of the attack since the three assailants have not been arrested. But we know that there has been increasing friction between Christians here and the Muslims. Some of them claim that the churches are making a lot of noise as if we do not have Mosques here that have prayers five times a day. We are not saying they attacked our church, but if they were just thieves, they would have stolen something. The three stormed in, attacked worshipers, and left.” exclaimed the pastor of Katikara Church. 

The church district overseer condemned the Tuesday night attack saying, “It is an evil from the pits of hell to shed blood of innocent people inside a church.” 

He added, “We urge the security arms of the government, with the support of the community, to bring to book those culprits. We are also praying for the family of our member who lost his life, as we plan on a rededication of the church since we believe it was defiled by the murder that took place inside.”  

This terrorist attack comes six days after the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) Congo-based militia group raided a secondary school in the neighboring district of Kasese, killing 40 students and 5 community members. Six students were also abducted and taken away to Congo’s Virunga Forest, but according to reports, three of them have escaped their captors and returned to their homeland Uganda. 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Eight killed by ADF on Sunday evening

 The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorist group conducted a Sunday night attack in Kasindi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), leaving eight dead, 12 injured and many others missing.  

Christians in Kasindi called an International Christian Concern (ICC) staffer asking for prayers around 10, p.m., as the terror group aligned with the Islamic State (IS) invaded the town. 

“Please know that the ADF has invaded the Western side of the town of Kasindi and Christians are being killed as we speak,” said a villager. “People have been alerted, and they are fleeing the area. The attackers are using hammers and machetes to avoid being heard if they use guns. We are asking for your prayers since this attack can turn out to be a mass massacre of believers if it is not stopped.” 

Security officers battled the rebels throughout the night in this border town between Uganda and the war-torn DRC.  

“The number of those killed stands at eight, and several others are in critical condition following last night’s attack,” a source confirmed from the mortuary. “There are missing people that we suspect have been abducted by the rebels. Hundreds have also fled and crossed into Uganda as other families return to look for their loved ones. Several houses were also burnt down. The security officers took a long time to repulse the ensuing terrorists and before they could arrive at the area, killings had already been done, and houses were on fire. 

“The situation is still fluid as the security agencies try to assess the extent of the attack. One of the deceased was a Kenyan driver who was shot dead while driving away just outside a hotel.” 

This attack comes five months after 15 Christians were killed and dozens injured when the rebel group detonated an improvised explosive device at a church in Kasindi while hundreds of believers gathered for a service.  

One church leader has expressed his concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Kasindi, a town known to host millions of Congolese displaced people.  

“We are pained that the only safe place where millions of victims flee to for shelter has become a target by the ADF rebels,” said the church leader. “Kasindi used to be a home for all the displaced Christians in Nord Kivu, and also others from as far as Ituri. The enemy is now coming for us. Where shall we run to? We are asking the government to protect us from these killers that have continued to target Christians for over three decades. And above all, we ask that you keep us in prayer as the Congolese believers bear this brunt of this fresh attack.”

In the past four weeks, the Kasindi area has lost 26 people in five deadly attacks all attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces. On May 11, three people were killed at the Semuliki crossing point, four kilometers from Kasindi town. On May 12, seven, people were injured when the ADF rebels launched a night assault in Katongo farming fields three kilometers from Kasindi. On May 14, a driver was killed and his truck was set on fire as he made his way to Kasindi near Kalindumbu. On June 8-9, ten civilians were killed in the village of Bukokoma, and 12 others were killed in Mutwanga, both neighboring Kasindi. 

The ADF was listed as one of the worst terrorist groups in ICC's comprehensive 2022 Persecutor of the Year annual report. The ADF was formed in 1995 in eastern DRC to overthrow the Ugandan government. After decades of violent extremism, the terror group affiliated itself with Islamic State in 2019. Years of local and international attempts to uproot the ADF have seen short-term success, but the group has repeatedly regenerated in the face of withering losses. 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Orphanage destroyed in DRC by fire

 An electrical fire destroyed an orphanage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday. More than 200 children and adults escaped unharmed, and International Christian Concern (ICC) is committed to helping the owners rebuild. 

ICC has supported the overcrowded orphanage with emergency supplies over the past year, including food, medicine, safe water, clothing, mattresses, and a fish farm. The children, from babies to teens, were orphaned by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorist group that killed their parents and ravaged their Christian communities. 

The Christian couple that has run the 30-year orphanage on a small plot of land risked their lives to save the children. The husband and wife have been overwhelmed and stretched beyond their limits recently, as more orphans are brought to them. The ADF storms through communities and kills Christians regularly – babies are found still clinging to their dead mothers and brought to the orphanage weekly. 

The ADF has been around since 1995 and was formally affiliated with the Islamic State in 2019. The United States government named the Islamist extremists a terrorist group in 2021. ICC also called out the terrorists in its comprehensive 2022 Persecutor of the Year report.

ICC asks for prayers for the children to find shelter in nearby refugee camps. 

ADF strikes again in DRC

 Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed one during an attack in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  

A truck driver, identified as Wangeve Ghislain, was shot to death Sunday morning along the Beni-Kasindi road at the Kalindumbu, and his truck was set ablaze. He and his assistant were ambushed as they made the early morning trip to deliver goods. Wangeve’s assistant escaped with injuries.  

The villagers of Kalindumbu blamed the rebels affiliated with the Islamic State jihadist group for their continued attacks on innocent Christians who work hard to make ends meet.  

“What benefit does it bring them [ADF] when they kill us? We are all working hard to provide for our needs and the needs of all the Congolese people, but these attacks have been a setback to the development of the region, despite the ongoing Congolese and Uganda Armies’ joint operation to clear the ADF rebels from the territory,” said one resident.  

The incident occurred two days after the Semuliki crossing point ambush, leaving three people dead, vehicles burned, and a boat destroyed.  

In a separate attack, seven people were injured when the ADF rebels launched a night assault in Katongo fields in Kasindi on May 12, looting their livestock and causing many Christians to flee from their farms.  

Religious leaders in Nord Kivu have called upon the government to protect people against the ADF Islamist group that has caused instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for two decades.  

“These recent incursions are just the tip of an iceberg, as we, the Congolese people, continue to bear the brunt of terror from this group almost every day as many cases go unreported,” continued the resident. “We have lost four people in four days, and if we were to go by statistics, one Christian is killed every day in Eastern DRC. We urge the government to tighten security and intensify the operation to keep all people safe from these terrorists.” 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Hindus love to riot

 Christians in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh continue to reel from a devastating attack from radical Hindu nationals that decimated their communities late last year. 

The attacks left more than 2,500 tribal Christians homeless.  

“There wasn’t even a time for me to lock the door of my house before I fled to the jungle,” a distressed tribal Christian recently told International Christian Concern (ICC). 

Hundreds of Christian homes were looted and vandalized, and many Christians were hospitalized with severe injuries inflicted by radicals during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

“They would have killed me and my family had I not fled to the jungle,” said survivor Pastor Kanan. “The phone call that I received from my friend saved my life … he alerted me about the furious mob that was advancing towards our village Gadhbengal carrying sharp weapons and sticks.” 

Kanan fled from his village and trekked through thick and dangerous jungle brush. He finally found shelter at his uncle’s house. 

Chhattisgarh is one of the eleven Indian states to have anti-conversion laws and has seen an escalation of violent attacks against Christians in the state. The ferocity of these attacks has devastated the Christian communities which have little to no protection or recourse from the government. 

On New Year’s Day, an anti-Christian mob of nearly 700 radicals mobilized in the Christian-populated area of Gadhbengal village, Chhattisgarh, and destroyed homes and properties. Thankfully around 200 Christians escaped the mob when they were alerted about rioters heading their way.  

A month after the horrifying incident, some Christians are gradually returning to their villages and picking up the piece of their lives. Others, however, are reticent and fearful of more deadly attacks. An overarching concern for all of them is when and where they find their next meal. 

“All that I witnessed was devastation,” said Ajay, a Christian survivor from Shantinagar in Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh. “There was nothing left for us, including the house. They broke the front door, entered inside, and destroyed everything, including our kitchen, furniture, even a Scooty that I use for transportation.” Ajay and his wife work as schoolteachers at a private school. Thankfully, the family was at the school when the rioters ransacked multiple Christian homes, so they escaped uninjured. 

Ajay is staying in a rented house along with his wife and two children. The family hopes that one day they can move back to his own house that was destroyed by the rioters. The possibility of rebuilding his house, however, is far from reality. “We are surviving on people’s goodwill,” Ajay told ICC. “Some Christians shared kitchen utensils, some gave us rice and others gave us the basic needs.” 

Five Christian families were chased out of their village in Turushmata for refusing to recant their Christian faith on Christmas Eve. Hindu extremists threatened families with death if any of them returned to the village. Pastor Janardan who gave shelter to the families said, “These Christians are poor and innocent, and live hand-to-mouth. They are being targeted for their faith. These families were told that they would be allowed to return if they re-converted to Hinduism.” 

Pastor Mohan, who fled his village to Jagdalpur, told ICC, “It’s been more than a month since I fled from my home to stay with my sister, and I am eagerly waiting to get back to my ministry field. But I was advised by members of my congregation not to return as the situation could put me into more trouble.” 

“No worship service on Sunday is taking place in the villages of Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts,” a local Christian leader told ICC. “Christians are traumatized and constantly living under fear and intimidation. Their survival is looking very grim on the ground; they need prayers and a helping hand.” 

The violent horde of anti-Christian rioters in Narayapur and Kondagaon district looked to force Christians to give up their faith and re-convert to Hinduism. Violence exploded as Christians prepared to celebrate Christmas. Sadly, the entire district had to shut down the Christmas celebration and Christians ran for their lives. 

India’s government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is increasingly adopting pro-Hindu nationalist ideologies that are fueled by such radical groups as the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). ICC listed Modi and the RSS in recent comprehensive Persecutor of the Year annual reports for their Christian oppression. 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Stay away from Tanzania for a while

 The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania issued a security alert to all Westerners and the general public on Jan. 25, following intelligence of a possible terrorist attack.  

In a statement, the Dar Es Salaam-based Embassy mapped out several tourist areas as spots the terrorists could hit.  

“Terrorist groups could attack with little or no warning, targeting hotels, embassies, restaurants, malls and markets, police stations, places of worship, and other places frequented by Westerners,” it read.  

The U.S. Embassy urged its citizens to remain vigilant, keep a low profile, and practice personal security measures while visiting these highlighted locations.  

Reports indicate that Tanzania has been infiltrated by the Islamic State (IS) jihadists due to its proximity to the Muslim-dominated province of Cabo Delgado in Northern Mozambique. In 2020, the insurgents conducted two attacks inside Tanzania after crossing the porous border from Cabo Delgado. They attacked Kitaya and Michenjele villages in Mtwara, killing 25 people, looting, and leaving a trail of destroyed property. 

A church leader in Tanzania has asked believers to be alert and prayerful and not to take the security warning lightly. 

“The Lord has been good to Tanzania over the years, and we are thankful for that. We have had times of tears due to terrorism, but we are not like other East African neighbors. Lately, we have seen how our young men and women have joined terrorist groups within the region, and so we should remain vigilant and prayerful and ask God to protect us from these enemies.” 

Perhaps the most notable Jihadist attack in Tanzania was on in August 1998, when al-Qaeda simultaneously bombed the American embassies in Dar Es Salaam and Nairobi, claiming 11 and 213 lives, respectively.

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.