Some are going to safer parts of the country while others are crossing the border into Cameroon.

"Systematic elimination"

The Church of England's General Synod last week called on the Government to "do all it can" to support the protection of religious minorities in Nigeria.

In the U.S., Marshall observed, courts generally uphold the First Amendment's free speech protections. But he said that America is still threatened by blasphemy laws, and cited efforts by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to promote international laws that ban insults to Islam, through the United Nations.

With most Nigerians, from every state of the country, we didn't know what we now know. We worked, lived, grew up together as Nigerians ... same people and we looked forward to building Nigeria. That was how we grew up. And Jos, in particular, was a home for everybody. Jos is situated on the north center part of Nigeria, a little over four thousand feet [4,062] above sea level, so it gets a wonderful climate all year around.

The attack took place in the church car park shortly after the conclusion of a seven-day evangelistic campaign. Pastor Umar, who had previously received death threats, said:

It was such a horrific terrorist attack on me by persons who in the name of religion poured acid on me seeking my death because of my religious affiliation and views.