#prayeralert: Bring Back Our GirlsLaura Gish - 9 May 2014
The sight of tearful moms picketing in front of the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC on May 6th grabbed hearts all around the world. Young girls — nearly 300 — have been kidnapped in northeastern Nigeria. Families are pleading for help, frantic for the safe return of their children.
Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group, forced the schoolgirls out of their school, into trucks and sped away. It’s believed the extremists have taken the girls to a remote area along the border of Cameroon. In a video clip, leader Abubakar Shekau, flanked by two masked and armed militants, threatened to “sell them in the market”; into marriage and into slavery. Allah told him to sell them, he said.
Efforts by the Nigerian government and organized search committees to rescue the girls have failed so far. Families don’t know what to do, where to turn.
In the latest attack, Boko Haram gunmen invaded a crowded marketplace in Gamburu. Gunfire erupted — 125 people died. Vehicles, supply trailers and homes were burned.
It’s no wonder people in the region are terrified
This has to stop. We have to pray.
• Pray for leaders to aid the Nigerian government in arresting the Boko Haram terrorists and bringing justice. President Barack Obama said the kidnappings may have motivated an international intervention to stop this “horrendous” organization.
• A quick, strategic and effective plan is needed to find the abducted girls. Ask God to give His wisdom and insight to rescuers.
• Pray for God to protect these girls and thwart the plans of the enemy to sell them.
• Pray that the Word of God would strengthen and bring peace to our brothers and sisters in Nigeria. Ask God to show Himself strong on their behalf. May they turn to Him and discover He is “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
• Pray for the members of the Boko Haram militant group; for intersession from God in their lives, that they would meet him in the conflict and see their motives and actions changed.
