Gruesome attacks on churches in the heavily populated African nation of Nigeria have horrified Christians worldwide and seem to promise more violence against Nigerian churchgoers by radical Muslims.
The attacks have ranged from bombings to mass shootings, and 42 people were killed during a Christmas Day attack on a Catholic church.
More than a dozen worshippers died when the Boko Haram Islamic sect attacked another church as part of the sect’s campaign to kill Christians in northern Nigeria.
Scores more Christians have been slaughtered in similar attacks in recent days, and hundreds have died over the past year. That has understandably prompted some Christians in the country to say they will defend themselves against such horrendous violence.
“We cannot sit back and watch people being slaughtered like animals every day, going to the church, shooting people, killing them,” one pastor told journalists.