"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”
2 Chronicles 16:9a
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Nigeria – Christians in Middle Belt call for action as month of sustained Islamist violence leaves 180 dead
Yet more sobering statistics emerge from Nigeria’s Middle Belt, as more than 180 Christians were killed in Islamist attacks during April 2025. Easter was the prime time for these assaults.
The total includes at least 72 people slaughtered in Benue State in attacks that began on 17 April, and continued into Good Friday, 18 April. Another attack less than a week later claimed 11 lives.
At least 94 had already died in Plateau State during the first two weeks of April.
“These are not random incidents,” said the Benue State governor Hyacinth Alia, himself a former church minister. “We believe they are coordinated efforts, possibly aimed at exterminating our people.”
Six others died when a truck deliberately ploughed into a procession in southern Gombe State on Easter Monday, 21 April.
Wilfred Anagbe, a senior church leader in Benue, was uncompromising in identifying Islamist extremism as the driving force behind the wave of violence.
“The quest to Islamise the land is high on the agenda of some of the most powerful and influential Muslims in Nigeria,” said Anagbe.
“There is a campaign to take land to spread Islam,” he continued. “Militant Fulani herdsmen are destroying society. They steal and vandalise. They kill and boast about it. They kidnap and rape –and they enjoy total impunity from the elected authorities. When they attack, they destroy churches and burn houses and schools.”
Christians in the affected states carried out protests to bring these Islamist attacks against their communities to the attention of authorities in the country.
A peaceful march took place in Benue State on 21 April, following the attacks over the Easter weekend.
A protest also took place in neighbouring Plateau State, where
thousands marched peacefully through the state capital Jos to
Government House, many carrying placards that read “The ground cries blood”, “We deserve to live” and “No more silence, peace now”.
Cry out to God for those Christians who have been bereaved in the Middle Belt in the month of April, and for others still mourning after earlier killings. Pray that the peaceful protests will be maintained and inspire holiness in God’s people to gain a purer vision of Him (Hebrews 12:14). Pray for hearts to be moved and minds sharpened in government to turn the tide of the attacks on Christians.
Laos – Four Christian families expelled from village
Barnabas contacts reported the eviction of four Christian families from their village in north-western Laos on 5 and 6 May.
The believers’ homes were destroyed, and they had to abandon most of their possessions. Village leaders and residents of Huang Khan Village, Long District, Luang Namtha province, targeted the Christians to force their eviction.
Barnabas partners quickly responded to pleas from the expelled villagers, who are from the Akha people group in the far north of Laos, close to the border with Thailand. Funds were sent to cover the believers’ immediate needs for rice, cooking oil, hygiene products and other essentials.
Our partners are currently looking for safe accommodation for the families.
The tearing down of Christian homes and eviction of Christians from villages has occurred repeatedly in country districts in Laos. A “Law on the Evangelical Church”, in force since December 2019, gives Christians the right to conduct services, preach throughout Laos and maintain contacts with believers in other countries. However, the law is not well enforced in rural areas.
Praise God for our partners’ swift response to the emergency. Pray that the families’ essential needs are met, for the assurance of the Lord’s presence and strength wherever they go (Joshua 1:9). Ask that they will draw strength from fellowship with the One who had nowhere to lay His head (Matthew 8:20) and for provision of a safe place to live. Pray that they will experience His peace and recovery from the trauma they have had to endure.
Mauritania – Christian grave desecrated amid rising hostility
Christians in Sélibaby, southern Mauritania, urgently need prayer support following the desecration of a grave during a violent protest on 7 April.
A demonstration, fuelled by anti-Christian rhetoric on social media, turned violent when a mob exhumed the body of a recently deceased Christian man.
The tombstone was destroyed, and the corpse dragged through the streets before being reburied in a village 12 miles away.
Threats against Christians circulated widely online in the days preceding the protest, which had been authorised by the authorities, with some calling for homes to be burned. The following day, incitement continued as Christians were labelled “infidels” and “apostates”, with calls for their complete social exclusion.
Local Christian leaders report facing growing isolation and hostility, including being shunned by extended family members. In response to the public outcry, regional authorities dismissed several senior security officials on 8 April following an internal investigation.
In late 2023, many church leaders and relatives were arrested, also in Sélibaby, sparking national attention. Though released in early 2024 (see Prayer Focus Update, February 2024), they continue to suffer harassment, violence and displacement.
Mauritania is almost 100% Muslim and is one of the few countries in the world where apostasy is punishable by death in line with sharia (Islamic law), although no known executions for leaving Islam have occurred in recent years.
Pray for God’s protection of the Christian community in Sélibaby and throughout Mauritania. Ask the Lord to comfort the grieving family and give strength to leaders facing persecution. Pray that His people will not fear social exclusion but be reminded of being called out of darkness and their inclusion in His kingdom of light, now loved and accepted as the people of God (1 Peter 2:9,10). Pray that the vacant original burial site will send a powerful message of the empty tomb to encourage Christians of Jesus’ conquest over death and give their persecutors cause to ponder and consider His claims.
Iran – Tehran court rejects Christians’ appeals
Please redouble your prayers for three Iranian Christian converts from Islam whose prison sentences (see Prayer Focus Update, April 2025) have been upheld by the 36th branch of the Tehran appeal court.
Narges Nasri, who is in the latter stages of pregnancy with her first child, Abbas Soori and Mehran Shamloui were sentenced on 8 March to prison terms totalling more than 40 years on charges concerning their beliefs and involvement in worship meetings.
On 26 April, the Christians were informed that the appeal court had turned down their appeals and on 7 May, were summoned to begin their sentences at the notorious Evin Prison.
The rejection of the three Christians’ appeals, announced in a ruling dated 23 April, was made “in view of the scope of their activities and their harmful effects”.
The three believers were arrested during a series of raids by intelligence agents in November 2024.
Narges, 37 years old, received a sentence of 16 years: 10 years for “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law”, five for membership of a house church (deemed to be an “opposition group”) and one year for “propaganda against the state” after she expressed support for the Women, Life, Freedom movement on social media.
Abbas, 48, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. The term comprises 10 years for “propaganda activities” and five for belonging to an “opposition group”. The sentences for Mehran, 37, for the same two charges were eight years, and two years and eight months, respectively.
The sentences included fines and deprivation of social rights – for example, restrictions on their employment. This restriction applies for 15 years in the case of Narges and Abbas, 11 years for Mehran.
On completion of their prison terms, Narges and Abbas must serve two years of internal exile outside their home province of Tehran, during which time they are banned from leaving Iran.
Pray that Narges, Abbas and Mehran will draw encouragement from the Scriptures and know the comfort and counsel of the Holy Spirit as they seek to endure these long, harsh sentences. Ask God to assure them that He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), and to give them insight into His purposes even in the darkest of surroundings. Pray that they will know that God is using even such injustice to further His kingdom.
Nicaragua – Government tightens control on churches during Easter
Please intercede for Christians in Nicaragua after the country’s government escalated a campaign of intimidation against churches in the days leading up to Easter.
Local police carried out “courtesy visits” to church ministers, warning them that leading public processions during Easter would lead to arrest.
Churches were also instructed to refrain from prayers for the country, its people or its leaders during services.
One minister, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, described this tactic as commonly used by authorities in previous years. The police, sometimes in civilian vehicles, deliver the threat subtly, aiming to suppress religious expression without alarming the public.
The government of Nicaragua has persisted in harassing churches and Christian organisations for several years. In March 2024, 11 pastors were arbitrarily arrested, tried, sentenced to 12-15 years’ imprisonment and subsequently exiled.
Ask the Lord to strengthen the faith of believers in Nicaragua, granting them courage to remain steadfast in worship and constant in prayer, knowing that the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective (James 5:16). Pray that church leaders will be protected and stand firm, not intimidated by the Gospel’s opponents, but empowered to guide their congregations in truth and peace (Philippians 1:27-28). Pray that the hearts of those in authority will soften, causing them to uphold justice and freedom for all in the country.
