MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Militant Islamists in Maiduguri in the northern state of Borno, Nigeria, have sent three letters to a church warning that members would be attacked, raising tensions in an area where 50 Christians were killed and 57 churches were destroyed last year.
Leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria said the letters were left on the premises of the 3,000-member Church of the Brethren in Nigeria on separate days in early October.
Mosque calls to prayer were sounded Oct. 9 at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., hours when Muslims do not usually observe prayers, putting police and security agencies on alert. By 6 a.m. Oct. 10, police armored tanks were patrolling the streets to thwart any plans to attack Christians.
Nigeria’s security agencies and Christian leaders held an emergency meeting Oct. 9 to discuss ways to protect Christians in the event of an Islamic strike on the church. Muslims in the city have long opposed the existence of the Church of the Brethren.
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