2023-09-15 19:42:30
A young seminarian was murdered by Muslim extremists in Nigeria after a failed kidnapping attempt. The group set fire to the temple and the rectory, which led to the boy’s death.
On September 7, a group of extremists from the Fulani ethnic group attacked a church in Fadan Kamantan, a town in the south of Kaduna state. Investigations point to a attempted kidnapping against the church leader, who was unsuccessful.
During their escape, the extremists set fire to the rectory. The flames spread and the rest of the people at the scene managed to escape, except for seminarian Na’Aman Stephen Danlami, aged 26, who died of asphyxiation and his body was charred by the flames.
According to a report obtained by Missão Portas Abertas, Reverend John Hayab, president of the Christian Association (CAN) of Kaduna State, confirmed the death of the seminarian and lamented the intense persecution suffered by Nigerian Christians.
“It is very sad that murders and this type of evil still continue to happen”, declared the reverend. The boy’s body was buried last Tuesday, September 12th.
Open Doors considers that “Nigeria is the most violent country for Christians”, according to the annual surveys that the missionary entity carries out: “According to data from the World Persecution List 2023, the number of deaths of Jesus’ followers has reached to 5,002 between the period from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. Equivalent to 89% of cases worldwide”.
“About 100 churches, schools, hospitals were destroyed in Nigeria. Additionally, there were 4,726 cases of kidnapping of Christians in the territory. Unfortunately, these numbers are growing and indicate that followers of Jesus face extreme persecution in the country”, adds the Open Doors statement.
The entity ends by asking for prayers for the brothers of the Persecuted Church: “Intercede so that the Lord consoles and meets all the needs of the family and friends of seminarian Danlami. Call for peace in Nigeria, so that Christian leaders and rulers will have the wisdom and strength to eliminate the wave of violence. Pray that Islamic extremists and Fulanis will encounter Christ and become followers of Jesus and part of the church.”
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