Boko Haram hits Kano again

(Photos by Compass Direct)

Nigeria (MNN) ― Explosions and the sound of gunfire were heard throughout Nigeria's largest northern city of Kano Wednesday.

The military spent the day engaged with suspected militants from the Boko Haram Islamist sect, with clashes that have become increasingly violent.

One of Boko Haram's signature moves is setting off multiple bombs in succession followed by shooting sprees. The terrorist group is suspected in for church bombings on Sunday in Suleja and claimed responsibility for attacks on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

The February 19 church attack came just two months after Islamists killed 44 Christians and blinded seven in a church bombing in nearby Madalla. Carl Moeller is President and CEO of Open Doors USA. He says this is not surprising. "The increasingly intentional activity of Boko Haram is now taking on the characteristics of a real war. These are not random attacks, as they're often characterized in the media. They're really intentional, and they're designed with one purpose in mind: the elimination of Christianity."

Boko Haram, which is waging an insurgency to try to impose Sharia law, has become increasingly coordinated and deadly in its methods in the last six months. In Hausa, the name means "Western education is forbidden."

What's more disconcerting is that since they reformed after being crushed in 2009, Moeller says, it looks like they got help. "All indications are that they're connected to the global terror network like Al Shabbab and Al Qaeda and others. We've seen Boko Haram become far more organized and intentional about their attacks. It's very clear that there's a strengthening here."

Compass Direct News reports Sunday's bomb was planted in a parked car outside of Christ Embassy church. Triumphant Ministries International Church was close enough to make investigators suspect both churches had been targets. Authorities arrested members of the sect the same day.  

Even with the arrests, stopping the carnage won't happen in the near future. Moeller explains, "Nothing we can see is showing that there's enough resolve at the government level, enough coordination, to destroy the network within Northern Nigeria. Frankly, the tide in Nigeria is very strong WITH Boko Haram."

There's been little international outcry on behalf of the Christians. The crisis does not seem to merit attention on the international stage, says Moeller. "Frankly, most of the world is quite reticent to get involved in some distant conflict in Nigeria. With so many things other happening around the world, Nigeria happens to fall off the plate of international attention, and yet unfortunately, that's going to result in thousands of more deaths."

However, many of the Christians Open Doors has been partnering with refuse to give up or to flee. They are still meeting for worship, and the Gospel is still going forward. "The fact that the church continues to meet in some of these places that churches have been burned out and they continue to assemble, has been a great testimony to their persecutors, that this message of Jesus is valid and powerful."  

Moeller goes on to say that, "Nigeria is so important to the spread of Christianity throughout Africa. Please pray with me for the Christians in Nigeria and for wisdom for President Goodluck Jonathan in dealing with the attacks and instability."

One thing that can be done for believers is prayer. Many believers face quandaries on at least two fronts: fight back with deadly force against the attackers, or don't. Stay or go. "Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us and to bless our enemies. That's kind of the role the church in Nigeria has to take up now. That they're doing it is a testimony to the truth of the Gospel."

Nigeria is ranked No. 13 on the Open Doors World Watch List of 50 countries which are the worst persecutors of Christians. According to World Watch List, Nigeria had at least 300 martyrs in 2011, although the actual number could be doubled or tripled. That number is the most in any country, although North Korea could have had more, but information is hard to obtain due to the isolation of the communist state.