Militant group Boko Haram attacked a predominantly Christian town in northern Nigeria on Aug. 6. The attack reportedly killed at least 100 people; many more were forced to flee to survive.
According to Christian Today, the group struck the town of Gwoza, in Borna State. Extremists rode into the town on motorcycles, trucks and vans, throwing out fuel-bombs and other explosives. Homes were looted and burned.
Survivor Pirda Tada said, "I thank God for sparing my life, but three of my neighbors and members of our church were killed during the attack.”
"These Christians in our village had their throats slit with knives while their hands were tied behind their backs. Some houses were bombed as the Boko Haram gunmen were chanting, 'God is great!' in Arabic,” he continued.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s chief executive Mervyn Thomas said in response to the event, "It is deplorable that the residents of Gwoza have been terrorised for so many months, and are now internally displaced, having lost their homes and livelihoods.”
In another act of violence, Boko Haram struck the mostly Christian town of Limankara this week, killing a Church of Christ pastor and three of his children.
Publication date: August 14, 2014