🔥🕊️ Christians Among Those Killed in Kashmir Terror Attack

GOOD MORNING.

We begin with a devastating update from Nigeria’s Benue State. On Good Friday, April 18, 2025—just as Christian worshippers in the Gbagir community prepared to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus—suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly ambush. At least 10 individuals were killed and several others injured in the early morning attack, which took place around 6:00 AM as parishioners made their way to church.

The massacre followed the killing of two farmers in nearby Chito the day before, marking a grim escalation of violence in a region long troubled by conflict over land and faith. As communities mourn, officials warn of rising tensions that continue to turn sacred spaces into targets.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Christian Tourists Among Victims in Sectarian Pahalgam Attack

On April 22, 2025, militants affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, launched a brutal attack on tourists in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attackers separated victims based on religion, forcing them to recite Islamic verses and inspecting them for circumcision. Those identified as non-Muslims—including both Hindus and Christians—were executed at close range, resulting in 28 deaths and over 20 injuries.

Christian Victims and Sectarian Targeting

Though the majority of victims were Hindu, several Christian tourists were also confirmed among the dead, highlighting a disturbing trend of expanding sectarian violence. The targeting of Christians has intensified fears for minority religious groups in the region, particularly during public gatherings or pilgrimages. The incident has drawn international condemnation and raised urgent calls for reinforced security for religious minorities in conflict zones like Kashmir.

Broader Conflict and Strategic Implications

This attack occurred in the context of long-standing Indo-Pakistani tensions over Kashmir, where Islamist militant groups have increasingly employed religion as a tool of terror. With tourism often seen as a symbol of stability in the region, the choice to strike during a peak holiday period underscores the militants’ intent to destabilize both social cohesion and economic activity. Religious persecution, especially of Christians and Hindus, now appears to be a deliberate tactic in a broader strategy of fear and division.

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REGIONAL THREATS

AFRICA

• RURAL GHANA – Heather Dillon, a 67-year-old Jamaican missionary from Ocho Rios, St. Ann, was among three individuals killed in a bus accident while traveling from Tamale to Kumasi. The private bus, carrying 15 passengers, crashed while overtaking on a narrow road. Dillon, serving as a training facilitator for Operation Mobilization since October, had previously worked in South Africa and was dedicated to sharing the gospel and supporting women in their faith.

• BILLIRI, NIGERIA – On Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, a truck transporting grains from Adamawa State lost control due to brake failure and plowed into a crowd of Christian worshippers participating in a procession in Billiri town. The incident resulted in the deaths of five individuals—three females and two males—and left eight others injured. The tragedy sparked unrest, with aggrieved youths setting the truck ablaze and attacking the local police station, injuring several officers, including the Divisional Police Officer.

• KAURU, NIGERIA – In the early hours of April 24, 2025, Rev. Fr. Ibrahim Amos, the parish priest of St. Gerald Quasi Parish in Kurmin Risga, was abducted from his residence by armed assailants.

MIDDLE EAST & CENTRAL ASIA

• No current updates.

SOUTH & SOUTHEAST ASIA

• MANAMPITIYA, SRI LANKA – On April 18, 2025, a gunman opened fire on a church in Manampitiya village, approximately 160 kilometers northeast of Colombo, just days before the sixth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The attack caused property damage but no injuries. Police arrested a 38-year-old suspect, citing a personal dispute with the pastor as a possible motive.

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

• No current updates.

NORTH AMERICA

• SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA – On April 16, 2025, a public transit bus bearing the phrase “Call on Jesus” exploded after its compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel tank ruptured. The incident caused significant damage to nearby vehicles and businesses but resulted in no injuries, as all 11 passengers were safely evacuated prior to the explosion. The Shreveport Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire.

• MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE – On April 17, 2025, an online bomb threat targeting New Vision Church led to the evacuation of nearly 600 middle school students attending a youth night event. No explosives were found, but two teens were arrested and charged with filing a false report.

• SUGAR LAND, TEXAS – On April 24, 2025, a suspicious package was discovered near the Divine Mercy Chapel at St. Laurence Catholic Church, prompting an evacuation and the closure of the adjacent school for the remainder of Thursday and Friday. Authorities detained at least one person in connection with the incident.

EUROPE

• PAPHOS, CYPRUS – On April 19, 2025, during Orthodox Easter celebrations, a 40-year-old man sustained a serious hand injury after an unidentified individual threw a firecracker at him while he was standing in a church courtyard. He received first aid at Paphos General Hospital and was subsequently discharged.

• GWEEDORE, IRELAND – St. Mary’s Church in Derrybeg, County Donegal, one of the largest churches in the Raphoe Diocese, was destroyed by a major fire in the early hours of April 22, 2025. Despite a swift response by five fire units and police, the church was gutted; no injuries were reported. Authorities are preserving the site for investigation, and the cause remains unknown.

• SALERNO, ITALY – On April 21, 2025, unknown individuals broke into the sacristy of a church in Salerno, stealing offerings collected during Easter celebrations.

• LEYLAND, UNITED KINGDOM – On Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, offensive graffiti was discovered on cars and properties in Leyland, including phallic symbols sprayed on vehicles and slogans on gates and walls. These acts are linked to earlier vandalism at St James’ Church, where gravestones and the church exterior were defaced with messages such as “God is a Lie.” Lancashire Police are treating the incidents as connected and have classified them as hate crimes.

AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA

• No current updates.

PRAYER REQUESTS

We ask you to join us in prayer for the victims of the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 28 lives were taken—many of them targeted simply for their faith. Among them were Christian believers who, even in a time of rest and reflection, bore witness to their convictions in the face of unimaginable danger.

Let us lift up the families left grieving, the wounded left healing, and the hearts left shaken. May the Lord bring comfort to those who mourn, justice for those lost, and peace in a region shadowed by hatred.

We also pray for strength—for all who live boldly in their faith despite risk, that they may be shielded by divine protection and filled with unwavering hope.

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