Bandits attack on Bobi Grazing Reserve, AGAIN!
On May 6th, Phyllis received this terrifying message from one of our teachers on Bobi Grazing Reserve: Good evening Ma. Ma, Bobi Grazing Reserve is under attack by bandits! They came this afternoon in mass, but thank God l have informed the headmasters to shut down the schools before their arrival. Staff has no access to leave the grazing reserve. Ma, as l am writing to you now a bandit went away with the motorcycle I was using for supervision. They also kidnapped one of our teachers, Musa -------. They broke all the keys and scattered all our belongings and also went away with valuable things. We also heard that they are coming out again so we went back to the bush to stay till tomorrow morning. What next ma? Thanks. F
Can you IMAGINE the terror of teachers and children alike! Our own Phyllis knows exactly how that feels.
From Phyllis: Well, we are thanking and blessing God over here, for the safe release of our kidnapped teacher, Musa. 400 bandits on motorbikes, according to our Bobi schools supervisor, F------, smashed their way into the reserve, shooting guns, breaking into homes, stealing anything of value, including F-----'s motorcycle. Some residents were killed; F------ did not tell me more than that. Our dear teacher Musa was kidnapped.
People ran and hid in the bush throughout the attack. F-------- took pictures of herself and some children hiding with her. Later she took a picture of Musa, after his release. Faith said when the bandits drove into the reserve, police and army turned tail and ran. Not good. All I can say is, thank you, Lord, that all of our teachers and pupils are safe and unharmed. Praise God. Phyllis
We are sharing pictures of F----- and children hiding in the bush, below. They are terrifying pictures, but this is what really happened, and we want you to please PRAY for them, and the Bobi Grazing Reserve! Pray for peace, for the government to step back up and protect this community! Pray for the Lord to protect this community!
You can see poor Musa in a picture below, as well. He is the man with no shirt on. He was badly beaten, and is in the hospital now. As you can imagine, he is suffering from PTSD from his kidnapping and attack. This is one of OUR TEACHERS! We feel so angry that evil has again attacked our dear ones on Bobi Grazing Reserve!
Bobi Grazing Reserve has been a volatile place at times. Bandits have wreaked havoc so much in the area that the Nigerian Army finally came in 2022 and intervened. We have enjoyed safer conditions since then, until NOW. Please join us in praying against this evil, for the safety of our children, teachers, and friends on Bobi Grazing Reserve.
Bobi Grazing Reserve, in Niger State, is over 75,000 acres large. It has SEVEN schools, educating over 700 children! We are so blessed to have TWO healthcare clinics on Bobi Grazing Reserve! We have drilled FIVE water boreholes there, and repaired two others. There is also a lovely church there, our FIRST Free Methodist Church! Area chiefs are absolutely thrilled to have schools for their children there. One chief named Kiri Bauchi told Missionary Phyllis Sortor that they were going to hold on to Schools For Africa and our schools with BOTH HANDS! Phyllis has a beautiful friendship and partnership with the people there.
Our SEVEN Bobi Grazing Reserve schools currently do not have any churches here in the states to prayerfully support them. We could use some individuals and churches to commit to support them in prayer! We also will need to replace F------'s motorcycle immediately, if you would like to help with that. The cost will be $2,000.
Some GOOD NEWS!
Salihu, university student, polio survivor, and dear friend is the proud daddy of a bouncing baby girl!! WooHoo! It's not cold outside, but this is how newborns are traditionally dressed!
As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?
