Written by Pastor Austen C. Ukachi

1.  Pray for the release of Nigeria's stolen wealth by Western Nations. Large amount of money stolen by past military leaders and by politicians mainly are stashed in many banks abroad. Pray that western countries that are custodians of Nigeria's stolen wealth would agree to repatriate the money to Nigeria without any pre-condition.

2. Pray for the peace of the land. Pray that the lingering crisis between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta militants would not deteriorate. Pray that it will be resolved amicably so that peace will reign in the land. Pray for peace in the South East where youths are agitating for the Republic of Biafra. Pray for peace in the North East where Boko Haram still maintains pockets of resistance.

3. Pray for the bill on cattle grazing. A bill is before the National Assembly on cattle grazing. Already, the public has reacted to some of the provisions of the bill, which grants the Federal Government the right to acquire any choice land for grazing of cattle. Pray for the National Assembly to thoroughly examine the bill and remove the offensive clauses. Pray that the Federal Government will exercise caution in the implementation of the bill whenever it is passed.

Written by Pastor Austen C. Ukachi

EXHORTATION

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way" (James 1:2-4 MSG).

Without any shadow of doubt, these are days of intense pressure. Both at the national and personal levels, we are all under one form of pressure or the other. In the words of Paul, we are hard pressed on all sides. As a nation, we are presently under economic, social, religious and political pressures. Business men and women are under economic pressure. So also are the students, market women, workers, etc. Pressure leads our youth into all kinds of vices. Some convent with the devil to acquire evil powers. Pressure leads our youth to seek to migrate to Europe by all means.some go through the desert, others cross the Mediterranean seas. Pressure lead some men to armed robbery etc.

UNICEF reports that the number of children involved in ‘suicide’ attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger has risen from four in 2014 to forty-four in 2015. One in five suicide bombers was a child. Terrorists are deceiving children and forcing them to carry out deadly acts. Half of the attacks in Cameroon were done by children, one in eight in Chad, and one in seven in Nigeria. The primary group perpetuating these tragedies is Boko Haram. An African proverb notes that children are the reward of life. Jesus didn’t keep the children far away; he welcomed them closely. Tragically we cannot physically reach the children in these countries, but we can pray that children will cease being objects to be used and start being individuals to be loved.

Pray: for Africa to act according to an African proverb, ‘Train a child the way he should go and make sure you also go the same way.’ (Pr.22:6)
More: www.denisonforum.org/global/2446-drastic-increase-in-number-of-children-used-in-suicide-attacks

On Sunday night, in Enugu State, an attack by more than two hundred suspected armed Fulani herdsmen left at least 48 people dead. Scores of people were critically wounded, and sixty houses and two churches completely razed to the ground. 56 people with gunshot wounds were taken to different hospitals. The state police confirmed the attack but cannot give an exact figure of people killed: however, the police and security agencies have been mobilised to curtail the situation so that it does not degenerate into all-out war. The attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades, bows and arrows, and machetes or swords. Many villagers escaped to neighbouring communities, but people in nearby towns are also worried about possible attacks from the herdsmen. Sources disclosed that the villagers had resisted the use of their farmlands as grazing fields by the herdsmen.

Pray: for God to comfort those mourning and living in fear, and to strengthen security in the area. (Is.41:10)
More: www.christiantoday.com/article/nigeria.dozens.slaughtered.and.church.burned.down.in.latest.fulani.massacre/84931.htm

Now that Nigeria is making headway against Boko Haram, it faces the challenge created by terrorists voluntarily surrendering their weapons. How can the country reintegrate former fighters into society and ensure they won’t become a future security threat? The current solution involves a rehabilitation camp established by the Nigerian military to repatriate surrendered Boko Haram fighters and encourage others to abandon the insurgency. Operation Safe Corridor will take terrorists through vocational training sessions to help them become productive citizens, said defence ministry spokesman Rabe Abubakar. He urged other fighters still on the loose to surrender and benefit from the programme, saying that the onslaught against the remnant of the terrorists would continue and not relent until the power of evil in the northeast is completely neutralised. Recently emaciated fighters begging for food have surrendered at military bases after food supply routes to the terrorists’ camps were blocked.

Pray: for God to give success to de-radicalisation programmes and authorities processing thousands of former Boko Haram captives. Pray also for the Chibok schoolgirls, still held captive after two years. (Ps.102:20)

More: www.christianheadlines.com/blog/nigerian-military-creates-rehab-program-for-boko-haram-fighters.html

  1. Nigeria: oil spills in the Niger delta
  2. Nigeria: churches unite for first time to address violence in north
  3. World horrified as scores of children massacred
  4. Nigeria: tumbling oil prices cause bankruptcies to loom

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