During a visit to Berlin, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Aminu Wali, said that the 200+ schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram will be released ‘in the very near future’ although he did not mention a specific date. The US administration confirmed on Monday that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between the Nigerian Army and Boko Haram but negotiations on the girls` release were still going on. Meanwhile four of the girls aged between 16 and 18 escaped from a camp in Cameroon and travelled west for weeks until they arrived at a Nigerian village. To date they are the only captives to have escaped from a Boko Haram camp. See:

Pray: that the new agreement to bring the girls to safety will not be broken and that this time they would be released without harm. (Ps.71:24)

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/abducted-girls-to-be-freed-soon-nigerian-minister_1488390.html

When fighters last month took the town of Gwoza murdering inhabitants and raising its jihadist flags, a video was released declaring the area was ‘now part of the Islamic Caliphate and Gwoza has nothing to do with Nigeria.’ Intelligence agencies believe that what were once symbolic links between IS and Boko Haram have developed into a practical relationship with the Islamic State offering advice on strategy and tactics. Emboldened by the success of IS and now equipped with armoured vehicles and artillery Boko Haram is beginning to operate more like a conventional army in Borno Adamawa and Yobe states. Since 2009 terrorists have attacked government buildings, bombed churches and killed; but recently entire towns have been captured and bases to control the territory are being established, a move that parallels IS. Christian leaders report tens of thousands of Christians and Muslims fleeing northern Nigeria where towns are being captured, including Michika earlier this week. See: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/africa/isis-gives-blessing-and-advice-to-boko-harams-dream-of-an-african-caliphate-30573042.html and http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue24747.html

Pray: that the ties between IS and Boko Haram will be broken by Nigeria’s security networks. Pray also for God to provide peace and security for the displaced. (Pr.29:11)

More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/isis-giving-nigerias-boko-haram-advice-on-establishing-african-caliphate-126164/

Witnesses who fled the sandy fishing village of Doron Baga near the shores of Lake Chad said militants clothed in military and police uniforms loaded 97 men and boys on to trucks and drove them away, leaving no men or boys in the place - only young children, girls and women. They said six older men were also killed in Sunday's raid while another five people were wounded. Terrorists also burned several houses. Boko Haram has dramatically increased attacks on civilians recently and the once-grassroots movement has lost popular support as it becomes more bloodthirsty. Young men are not now willingly volunteering as soldiers. So Boko Haram’s solution is kidnapping boys and forcing them to fight and abducting girls as sex slaves. This is a chilling echo of Ugandan rebel Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army, which operated in the same way in Uganda, South Sudan and central Africa for decades.

Pray: for missing and abducted Nigerians and their families. (Ps.17:7-9) Ask God to halt the increasing mobility of Boko Haram across vast swathes of north-eastern Nigeria without being intercepted by the military. (Ps.44:23-24)

More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2725964/Boko-Haram-kidnap-dozens-men-boys-attack-Nigeria-village-latest-Islamist-outrage.html

Nigeria's militant Islamist group Boko Haram has captured the key north-eastern town of Michika, residents say, gaining more territory in its efforts to create an Islamic state. People fled into bushes as gunfire rang out in the town, they added. Boko Haram has changed tactics in recent months by holding on to territory rather than launching hit-and-run attacks. The government called on Nigerians not to lose hope. The military was committed to defending Nigeria's territorial integrity, it said. Soldiers killed 50 militants during a raid on their hideout in the small north-eastern town of Kawuri at the weekend, the army said. Last month, Boko Haram said it had established an Islamic state in areas it controls in north-eastern Nigeria. Michika is a trading centre in Adamawa state not far from the Cameroon border.

Pray: against the ongoing attacks by Boko Haram as it seeks to establish an Islamic state. (Ps.140:12)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-29110663

For the families of the missing girls kidnapped more than a hundred days ago, another trauma has emerged. Eleven of the grieving parents have died, many after heart attacks and stress-related illnesses. President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to secure the girls release during his first meeting with parents recently. Parents pulled out of previous meetings believing they were being used for political reasons. Despite the support of the USA, France and the UK the whereabouts of the girls is still unknown. President Jonathan reassured parents, appealing for patience, understanding and cooperation. ‘Anyone who says we are aloof and not doing what we are supposed to do to get the girls out is not being truthful. Our commitment is to get the girls out and to rout Boko Haram completely from Nigeria.’ Please pray for security in the area; there are concerns of a humanitarian disaster as Christians flee Boko Haram. See: http://www.3news.co.nz/Nigerians-flee-Boko-Haram-attacks/tabid/417/articleID/355664/Default.aspx

Pray: for the heartbroken families. Ask God to protect communities against the onslaught of fear and hopelessness. Ask God to remind them that He has a future and a hope for them. (Lk.1:50-51)

More: https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2014/07/article_3230638.html/

  1. West Africa: Ebola enters Nigeria as World Bank pledges financial support
  2. Nigeria: Christians mourn 150 killed including pastor
  3. Call to Prayer 1 October 2014
  4. National Day of Praise, Thanksgiving and Repentance

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