Saki, Nigeria

“Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation and thy gates Praise.” Isaiah 60:18, KJV

The journey from Ibadan to Saki made us pass through many fascinating scenery and landscapes. Sights of rural dwellers intersecting with emerging urban features caught our attention. “We are there now”, said our tour guide after sighting the Asabari Barracks. We were welcomed with the beautiful speaking of the Yoruba language with the Onko dialect, popular among the Okeogun people of the northern part of Oyo State The giant hand-held iron pot greeted us at the city centre. “This is a very remarkable symbol of the popular trade of the Saki people”, he added. Saki is on a strategic route linking Southern Nigeria to the North on the western border of the country with the Republic of Benin. Rich in history, Saki is believed to have been a temporary seat of government of the Yoruba kingdom. There is also a strong affiliation of Ogun (the Yoruba god of iron) to Saki.

Being a border town, Saki receives thousands of peoples on daily basis. Trade and commerce is a normal life in the city. Smuggling is not uncommon; a major feature of border cities. It was time for Maghrib prayer. The blast from the horn speakers drove thousands into nearby Mosques. “Our people are very religious. They believe in the teachings of the Prophet and in the Holy Book”, said a local Imam. Islam thrives in the city though Christian missionary effort has been in the city since early 19^th century. Saki hosts a high significant number of Muslims. Very unlikely of Southwest Nigeria, where adherents of different faiths cohabit without frequent clashes, Saki witnessed a major religious riot in 2000 resulting in loss of lives and properties as well as destruction of worship centers. The town has not been the same since then.

Please Pray:

• Thank the Lord for the seed of the gospel which has been sown in Saki many years ago. Ask the Lord to make gospel effort to prosper especially among Muslims in the town.
• Pray that Christians in Saki will live as light and salt thereby making the Gospel real to those who are yet to accept the Good News.
• Pray that the Light will shine in the heart of every seeker in the town and particularly among those who are genuinely seeking the Way.