Nigeria (North)

Key Facts:

Leader:
President Umaru Yar’Adua
Population:
148 million (50% Christian)
Majority Religions:
Christianity/Islam
Type of Government:
Federal republic

Wide differences of religion, ethnicity, and culture divide the country. Christians are a minority in the north, where Shariah law is effective in 12 states. Muslim extremists present real dangers to Christians, and thousands have fled in recent years. Churches and homes have been destroyed. In October 2007, violence over alleged cartoons of Muhammad drawn by Christian students left nine Christians reported dead, eight churches burned, and as many as 70 shops damaged.

Prayer

• Uphold those who live in fear of attack, particularly students, who are a tiny minority on their campus.
• Pray for Christians who are seeking an alternative non-Shariah education for their children.
• Pray for the distribution of Bibles in local languages, as there are over 500 languages spoken in the country.