(International Christian Concern) A press statement issued by Niger state police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, has revealed that police in association with the state’s Intelligence Unit have arrested a suspect planning a church attack in Nigeria’s capital.
The Nigerian Daily Post reported on the press release, stating that Umar Samaila, aged 50, was arrested and interrogated on November 20th, one day prior to the attack planned on the church in Buku village, Abuja.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being the spiritual leader to some notorious bandits hibernating in Niger, FCT Abuja, and Nasarawa States,” said Abiodun. “During his last conversation with his gang on the same date at about 0720hrs, he directed them to go ahead with the operation and assured them of success.
“He also promised to pray for the release of a suspected bandit known as ‘Julli’ currently in police custody in Abuja. The suspect will be transferred to the FCT (Police) Command, Abuja for further investigation.”
In addition to Samaila, four other suspected kidnappers were arrested, all identified as nomadic herders. Their identities were released as: 27-year-old Abubakar Buba of Babana village, 20-year-old Shehu Mallam Jare of Rafindaji village, and 44-year-old Abubakar Garba and 25-year-old Abubakar Na’Allah, both of Maijaki village.
In The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) 2021 annual report, Commissioner Gary L. Bauer described Nigeria as a “killing field” of Christians and warned that the nation is moving toward a Christian genocide.
“All too often this violence is attributed to mere “bandits” or explained away as hostility between farmers and herdsmen,” stated Bauer. “While there is some truth in these assertions, they ignore the main truth: radical Islamists are committing violence inspired by what they believe is a religious imperative to ‘cleanse’ Nigeria of its Christians. They must be stopped.”
Please join us in praying for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria, for the Lord to strengthen the Nigerian church and heal His persecuted children of their trauma. Please also pray for the world to recognize the scale of the suffering that believers are having to endure in Nigeria, as well as for the souls of those who persecute the church, that all will repent and find salvation in Christ.
This article originally appeared here.