The Christian community in Niger experienced weekend violence that claimed the lives of ten people and led to the destruction of dozens of places of worship and Christian homes. The protest started in the country’s second city, Zinder, quickly spreading to surrounding areas. Ten people died, and more than 70 churches were destroyed, along with Christian schools, organisations including an orphanage run by the Assembly of God Church.  Forty orphans are under the care of police. Over 30 Christian homes were looted and burnt. Those affected are left them with ‘only the clothes on our e backs.’ Lack of security forces intervention turned Christians and their properties into easy targets for the protesters and looters. Niger’s president said, ‘Those who plunder places of worship, persecute and kill their Christian compatriots, or foreigners living on the soil of our country, did not understand anything about Islam’. The church has called Christians to respond with the love of Christ.