Earlier this month, Islamic militants terrorized Muatide village in Mozambique for three days. Between November 6 and November 8, they corralled fleeing Christians to a local soccer field where more than 50 villagers were beheaded and chopped to pieces.

Barnabas Aid, a Christian organization that serves the persecuted Church throughout the world, has contacts in the area and reported that anyone who refused to support the jihadists and embrace their beliefs was attacked and their property set on fire. In one such attack, gunman shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is great,” also known as an Islamic battle cry) stormed into Nanjaba village on November 6, firing weapons and setting homes on fire. Two villagers were beheaded, and several women abducted.

Scores of Christians are being asked to refuse Christ. They are fleeing to Christian mission stations throughout the area for protection. Since 2017, more than 2,000 people have been killed and about 430,000 have been left homeless in the region.

NIGERIA

In Nigeria, thousands of people have died at the hands of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Fulani militants. Nathan Johnson, the Africa regional manager for International Christian Concern, commented “Recently the violence has skyrocketed. It’s a definitely a different level of violence now. Entire villages are wiped out.”

Justine Patrick, 25, was killed in October walking home from work. Suspected Fulani extremists led the attack. Johnson said he doesn’t know why Patrick was murdered, but suspected it had to do with his faith.

“Farmers aren’t usually carrying anything of value, so they probably attacked him because he was a Christian,” Johnson told The Christian Post. “’Justine Patrick’ is clearly a Christian name. In Nigeria, if you’re a Christian, you have a Christian name. If you’re a Muslim, you have a Muslim name.”

International Christian Concern’s statistics count 600 murders by Fulani tribesmen so far this year. Human rights watch groups are warning that violence in Nigeria by radical herdsmen and Islamic extremists against Christians is reaching the level of genocide.

ETHIOPIA

Regional tension and an escalating humanitarian crisis have reignited conflict in Ethiopia. The federal government has declared a six-month state of emergency and has cut off internet and communication access in the region of Tigray.

The rise in unrest came after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a native of the Oromo ethnic group, postponed national elections that were to be held last August. This was after he had granted amnesty to thousands of political prisoners and legalized outlawed opposition groups.

Last week 56 people were killed in western Ethiopia by 60 suspected militants with the Oromo Liberation Army rebel group.

A bipartisan group of 20 members of the U.S. House of Representatives has called for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to confront the Ethiopian government about violence against ethnic and religious communities and the used of excessive force by security officials.

Even though Abiy has insisted his government has everything under control, the situation in Ethiopia must continue to be monitored.

PRAY: Continue to pray for our African brothers and sisters. Pray for their faith and courage in the face of persecution. And pray for the global persecuted Church.

PHOTO: Barnabas Aid