Church attacked in northern Nigeria

Pray for believers in Nigeria today!

Gunmen attacked a church Tuesday in northern Nigeria, but it was unclear if there were casualties in the latest such incident in the region where dozens have been killed in recent months, reported Agence France-Presse.

Police Commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar said there was an attack on a church around the Gomari area of Maiduguri, and soldiers stationed there fired back. It is unclear who the attackers were.

Previous such incidents have been blamed on an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram that launched an uprising in 2009 put down by a brutal military assault.

Three churches were attacked on Christmas Eve in Maiduguri, killing six people. The sect has also claimed responsibility for the recent assassination of a high-profile candidate for governor.

Dozens of people have been left dead in Nigeria's north in recent months in hit-and-run shootings blamed on the sect, though police say politics may have also played a role in certain killings ahead of April elections.

Please pray for believers in Nigeria today. Pray those who suffer tremendous physical pain and trials will be strengthened and delivered by the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:9-11). Pray they will trust God to enable them to proclaim the gospel even while suffering (2 Timothy 4:16-18).