Gabriel Leyva, 19, was serving his mandatory military service when he was accused of forming a cartel against the Cuban government. When Gabriel's father, a pastor, went to the prison to visit him, the guards refused to let them speak to one another. "We know this is a form of persecution from the government, to hurt this young man because he is the son of a pastor," a VOM contact said. The Leyva family is integral to a new church plant that VOM sources say is a "powerful blessing" in the community.

Islamic extremists attacked the village of Nunkwo, in northern Nigeria's Taraba state, on Jan. 28, killing 23 people and injuring another 18. More than 1,000 armed men, thought to be disguised as Fulani herdsmen, surrounded the village before opening fire on Christian villagers. The extremists looted and burned churches and Christians' property, but the local mosque was protected by soldiers posted in the village. Some of the Christians had been warned of an impending attack, so many of the more than 15,000 Christians in the village had left before the extremists arrived.