Nigeria (MNN) — A report from independent, nonprofit newsroom The New Humanitarian says Nigeria’s government and Boko Haram have had a secret ceasefire agreement since June. 

That’s the same month the radical Islamic group released 360 kidnapped civilians in northeastern Nigeria. The report from The New Humanitarian says the ceasefire agreement was linked to the release of prisoners. 

This raises many questions, especially for those who have strong beliefs on how to interact with groups labeled as terrorists. Greg Musselman with Voice of the Martyrs Canada acknowledges that it is hard to get information about what is really going on.

Boko Haram militants (Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)

“How did that [release of kidnapped people] happen? Was it through negotiation? The Nigerian government [is] claiming that they’re not paying these ransoms, but are they? And, you know, what have they given up to the Boko Haram in order to have this ceasefire that’s going on?” he says.

The Boko Haram front appears to have calmed down, according to The New Humanitarian report. However, clashes with Fulani herdsmen have not stopped for Christians. 

“More recently, 30 believers were killed — 25 in one village. So that continues to go on, and that is mostly from the Fulani herdsmen. [They are] Muslim for the most part,” says Musselman, adding that there are indeed Fulanis who have become Christians.

Boko Haram and Fulani ethnic militias are far from the only actors in Nigeria’s violence. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) also exists, as do the Lakurawa and other groups. It is perhaps understandable but no less tragic that Christians have taken up weapons and kill in return. Ethnic tribal loyalties are huge social factors. 

“We’re seeing these reports that Christians are attacking Muslims, and unfortunately, even the ethnic thing that goes on, of other Christians attacking other Christians,” says Musselman. “Now we’d say, well, are they really followers of Christ.” 

Ethnic violence, Muslim Fulanis against Christian farmers, and the actions of radical Islamic groups like Boko Haram are all layers present in northern Nigeria. “And then what happens is it just spirals out of control,” says Musselman. 

Ministries like Voice of the Martyrs Canada seek to help Nigerian Christians respond to persecution in a biblical way. That doesn’t remove the hard realities facing Christians in the northern part of the country, but it does help them stand firm within God’s will. 

“You see the quotes from the Christians like ‘We are praying, but we’re still being attacked.’ I guess the question is, ‘Well, where is God in this? Why do so many thousands of Christians get killed every year in Nigeria?’” says Musselman.

There are no easy answers. Pray for the gospel of peace to spread despite cycles of violence. Pray for wisdom for groups like Voice of the Martyrs Canada, who support Christians under fire, providing care in both tangible and intangible ways. 

“How do we continue to talk about something that goes on and on and on and on?” Musselman asks before he answers: “Because we care and we cannot shrink back in terms of our prayers and our support for our persecuted brothers and sisters.” 

Header photo: Nigerian believers pray for intervention in recent years. (Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)