Solidarity

Fulani militants have been attacking Christian villages in Mangu, central Nigeria. The latest wave of attacks on some 30 villages began on May 16 and killed at least 125. Similar attacks over the same period claimed another 43 lives.

Children were killed and injured during the attack on Mangu. Among them 8-month-old baby, Precious Mani. Precious was shot twice but survived. Her parents and five siblings were among the dead in the attack on Nbun Ward in May. A mother whose oldest child was killed in the attack said: ‘We started hearing gunshots in the night at around midnight. My grandmother and the girl who stays with me were killed, along with my first born. My 5-year-old has been seriously wounded, too. He’s in great pain.’ She identified the attackers as militant Fulani herders. ‘They are our neighbours,’ she said. ‘Our house is just besides theirs. They called my son by name.’

It makes no sense. To kill one’s neighbours that you know by name. But such is the world that our Christian family live in. What can we do? We pray and we can give to great organisations like https://releaseinternational.org/release-campaigns/rose/ where the above story is taken from.

But there is also another thing we can do:

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5 v 8-9)

Today I know many friends who wake to a spiritual battle. In fact yesterday I spoke with two of them in different situations and said the same thing, ‘this is a spiritual battle.’ Therefore, we fight differently. We “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world.” (Message)

If you wake to a spiritual battle today then do so with solidarity with your family in Mangu, Nigeria. Their experience can inspire you to also persevere as they do. If they can stand firm so can you. You can do this.