Niger

On September 15th, a baptismal ceremony in Takoubatt, a village located within the Tillabéri region of Niger, was violently disrupted when gunmen on motorcycles suddenly stormed the gathering. According to a local source, 15 people were killed during that initial attack. The assailants then moved to the outskirts of the village, where they claimed the lives of seven more villagers. One local media outlet described the incident as a "gruesome death toll of 22 innocent people [who were] cowardly killed without reason or justification."

The Tillabéri region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, has been plagued by persistent attacks from jihadist groups linked to the al-Qaeda and self-proclaimed Islamic State militant organizations. Despite ongoing efforts to curb the violence, the military has struggled to maintain control over the area. A recent report from Human Rights Watch highlighted the various difficulties encountered by authorities in their attempts to protect the region's civilians. View a list of previously published reports concerning Christian persecution in Niger.

• On behalf of the families and community members now left mourning the tragic loss of their loved ones as a result of this recent attack, pray that they will receive God's great comfort, peace and healing.
• Also prayerfully uphold Niger's governing authorities as they try to restore order and security in the midst of the ongoing violence, asking the Lord to help them find effective and lasting solutions.
• Last, but not least, please intercede for the eternal salvation of the perpetrators responsible for the attacks, in hopes that they will be receptive to the transformative work of God's Holy Spirit in their lives. As a result, may they no longer be used as the enemy's agents of evil, but rather serve as dedicated disciples of Christ – demonstrating His tremendous compassion, mercy and saving grace.