5th February 2026

In Nigeria’s deadliest armed assaults this year, 160 people were gunned down in the western states of Woro and Nuku in Kwara on Tuesday.  It is understood that gunmen had rounded up residents, bound their hands behind their backs and killed them. The attackers also torched homes and shops. Local residents told Reuters that the gunmen were jihadists who often demanded that locals ditch their allegiance to the Nigerian state and switch to sharia law, and that the killings were retribution when villagers refused.  Police have also said that in a separate attack on Tuesday, gunmen killed at least 13 people in Doma village in the Faskari area in Katsina state in the north-west. Last week, at least 36 people died in the north-east during separate attacks on a construction site and on an army base. 

Loving God, we come before you today to express our love and concern for our neighbours in north and west Nigeria. Embrace into your loving care all who grieve the deaths of those they love, family, neighbours, friends and colleagues. May they know the comfort of your near presence. Stretch out your hand of mercy to heal the nation, restore justice, and bring reconciliation and unity where there is division. May your protection be upon the children, women, and vulnerable populations. Protect all from harm, exploitation, and oppression. Grant healing to the wounded, and peace to the fearful. Pour out your Holy Spirit that he may bring wisdom to leaders, integrity to authorities, and peace to communities torn apart by violence. We thank you in the words of the Psalmist, that You are our refuge, our strength, and a very present help in times of trouble. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

On 26th January the USA officially withdrew from the World Health Organisation (WHO). It thereby cut the WHO’s fuding by around 18% resulting in almost a quarter of staff (around 2,000 people) losing their jobs as well as adversly impacting WHO vital global work. However, on Tuesday this week, Illinois’s governor JB Pritzker announced that Illinois state will join the WHO.  New York State made a similar announcement yesterday, California having already joined. All three states have both announced that they will join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). “By withdrawing from the World Health Organization, Donald Trump has undermined science and weakened our nation’s ability to detect and respond to global health threats. I refuse to sit idly by and let that happen,” Pritzker said this week. Membership of the WHO give these states access to a global network of over 360 institutions and organizations that respond to acute public health events with the deployment of staff and resources to affected countries. Governor Pritzker added, "Across our state and alongside valued partners around the world, Illinois will continue to put science, preparedness and people first.” 

Lord, my soul sing of your greatness!

You give me innumerable blessings

and best of all, the promise of your word;

My heart rejoices in you, God my Saviour.

 My soul, sings of your great and Holy name!

I will tell of your mighty deeds,

the works of your hands,

because your mercy is steadfast and certain

throughout all generations

You are the Lord, the Mighty One

My soul, sings of your mighty power !

The nations of the earth all bow to you.

You turn the world upside down,

the proud and powerful are humbled

and the poor and weak exalted.

 My soul sings of the glories of your Word!

your keep your promises

and we can be certain of your mercy.

Your greatness, O Lord will be proclaimed

to every generation, for ever!  Amen.

Prayer based on a hymn by Timothy Dudley Smith (b. 1926),

itself based on Luke 1:46-55