Terrorist assaults forced at least 40 of their congregations to close their doors in the Mangu area. In the Bokkos region, they lost about 30 congregations. Several Christian families were forced to flee after their houses were burnt down. Some dared to return, and they created communes to keep themselves safer. 

Church of Christ in Nations evangelistic outreaches in north-eastern Nigeria have suffered recurring atrocities by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. Many pastors have been kidnapped, and the churches are struggling to raise enough money to get them released.

Pastor Monzo stated in an interview: “Our members were killed, people were killed, people lost their houses, many [were] traumatized and we couldn’t do anything. We were stranded, but we had to face the challenge, and Christmas was celebrated by displaced Christians in Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) camps in spite of the tragedy. Most of these members of our church were displaced, and many of them are living in camps outside their communities. Most of these Christians have been moving here and there, trying to survive or find succour. All our worship church buildings in these communities were burned down by the terrorists. Internally Displaced Christians from these communities are still living in camps outside their communities. And even now, most of them who are farmers are unable to go to their farms. Notwithstanding, our displaced church members still find it difficult to go to their farms for productive activities because of ceaseless attacks against them by armed terrorists, herdsmen and bandits. With these developments, we have been making efforts to see that our church members who survived these attacks and are living in camps outside their communities are relocated back to their communities. But then, we have to rebuild not just worship buildings, but also their burned houses. I’m from the northeast of Nigeria, Gwoza Local Government Area, precisely from Limankara town, and my village is Ngoshe Sama, which is located on the hills. Boko Haram took over the village years back, and they’re still there. So, these hills occupied by Boko Haram terrorists overlook Limankara and Gwoza towns. These terrorists come down from the hills to attack our communities and then retreat into the hills. We, as a church, are handicapped, because it is impossible to raise money at all times to pay ransoms to terrorists to secure the release of pastors being held captive. And this is because, almost in all parts of northern Nigeria, our church members and pastors are being kidnapped by terrorists. So, where can we raise large sums of money to get them out from their captors?”