While we debate worship styles and coffee bar aesthetics in North American churches, 35 Christians are murdered every single day in Nigeria simply for believing in Jesus Christ.. Our response must reflect understanding the Gospel and how we engage in Christian community building globally. For context on Christian responses to global crises, explore AI and Christian Responses to Global Challenges.
Let that sink in. 35 deaths. Daily.
In the first seven months of 2025 alone, over 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria ormaking it the deadliest country on earth for followers of Jesus. To put this in perspective, that's more than double the death toll of some wars that dominate our news cycles. Yet most Christians in the West couldn't tell you the first thing about what's happening. As Christians, we need to be aware of suffering believers to pray for them, raise awareness and get more visibility on this issue.
In this article, we're going to walk through the brutal reality of Christian persecution in Nigeria. I'll share verified statistics, survivor testimonies, the perpetrators behind the violence, government complicity, and most importantly,what this means for the global body of Christ. We'll examine this through Scripture, look at real stories, and discuss what our response should be.
This Hebrews 13:3 commands us: "Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies." Our prayers and intercession are powerful tools orexplore AI and spiritual formation for how to deepen your prayer life for persecuted believers worldwide.
So let's remember. Let's feel. And let's act.
The Staggering Numbers: A Crisis of Historic Proportions
Death Toll That Defies Comprehension
Wrestling with Just War and Pacifism](/blog/what-does-the-bible-say-about-war-and-violence).
Around midnight, armed militants on motorcycles attacked with AK-47s.
51-56 Christians were killed, including 15 children. Over 2,000 people were displaced.
Security forces? They arrived hours late despite multiple emergency calls. This pattern of "delayed response" repeats across virtually every attack.raising serious questions about government complicity.
Easter Weekend: 72 More Deaths
Just days later, during Easter weekend (April 18-20), 72 Christians were killed in Ukum and Logo Counties, Benue State.
The Easter/Lent 2024 period saw coordinated violence across multiple states totaling over 240 Christians killed.
Think about the symbolism here. These attackers knew what they were doing. They chose the holiest days of the Christian calendar orChristmas, Palm Sunday, Easter-to maximize the theological and psychological impact.
_"Understanding the Perpetrators
Three Distinct Groups
The persecution isn't monolithic. Three main perpetrator groups drive the violence, each with different motivations:
1. Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province)
These are explicit jihadist terrorists with clear anti-Christian ideology. Their name "Boko Haram" literally means "Western education is forbidden." They've been waging insurgency since 2009, primarily in northeastern Nigeria.
Key characteristics:
- Explicit religious motivation
- Systematic targeting of Christians
- Mass kidnappings (remember the Chibok girls?)
- Allegiance to broader jihadist movements
2. Fulani Militants
This is more complex. The Fulani are traditionally nomadic herders, and some claim the violence is purely about "grazing rights" and "climate change" pushing herders south.
But here's the data that challenges that narrative: Christians make up roughly 50% of Nigeria's population, yet account for 76.7% of all targeted killings. Fulani militants are killing Christians at 6.5 times the rate their population would predict if this were purely economic.
Evidence of religious motivation:
- Attacks concentrated on Christian villages
- Churches specifically targeted
- Shouting "Allahu Akbar" during attacks
- Warning letters about Christian holidays
- Systematic destruction of Christian infrastructure
3. Criminal Kidnapping Gangs
Nigeria's collapsed security situation has created space for purely criminal operations andkidnapping for ransom, banditry, etc. these groups still disproportionately target Christians, particularly clergy who can command higher ransoms.
145 Catholic priests kidnapped in the past decade tells you who these criminals see as valuable targets.
Government Complicity and Inaction
Here's where it gets really troubling. Multiple patterns suggest government complicity:
Delayed response: Security forces consistently arrive hours late, despite:
- Villages calling for help
- Attacks lasting hours
- Mobile phone communication available
- Military bases nearby
Lack of prosecution: Near-total impunity for perpetrators. Arrests are rare. Convictions are virtually non-existent.
Land allocation: Government has allocated land to Fulani herders in Christian areas, effectively rewarding violence with territory.
Denial of religious motives: Official government position denies religious dimensions, attributing everything to "farmers-herders conflicts" or "climate change."
"These killers are professionals... their sponsors are among us." , Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, suggesting government complicity
The Media Blackout: A 100:1 Coverage Disparity
Here's something that angers me as someone who works in tech and follows information flow: the systematic media blackout on Nigerian Christian persecution.
The Numbers Don't Lie
A study by the Centre for Media Monitoring analyzed 35,000+ BBC articles. The findings are stunning:
Gaza conflict (where casualty figures are disputed and include combatants): Massive, continuous coverage across all major news outlets.
Nigeria (where over 7,000 Christians documented dead in 7 months): Minimal coverage. And when covered, the religious dimension is systematically omitted.
The coverage disparity is approximately 100:1.
Euphemisms and Obfuscation
Several factors contribute:
1. Geopolitical considerations: Nigeria is Africa's largest economy and oil producer. Western governments prioritize maintaining relationships.
2. Narrative discomfort: The story doesn't fit preferred narratives about which religious groups are persecutors vs. persecuted.
3. Lobbying efforts: Nigerian government has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on U.S. lobbying to shape policy and media coverage.
4. Complexity: The Fulani herder angle provides convenient cover to avoid addressing religious dimensions.
"If the trend continues, Christianity could be wiped out from Nigeria by 2075." . Emeka Umeagbalasi, Intersociety Director
The Political Dimension: U.S. Policy Failures
The Country of Particular Concern Controversy
In November 2021, the Biden administration made a controversial decision: it removed Nigeria from the State Department's list of "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPC) for religious freedom violations.
This happened one day before the Secretary of State visited Nigeria.
Here's the problem: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)-an independent, bipartisan federal commission,had consistently recommended Nigeria for CPC designation every single year.
The removal wasn't based on improved conditions. In fact, violence escalated after the designation was removed:
- 2021: 4,650 Christians killed
- 2022: 5,014 Christians killed
- 2023: 4,118-8,222 Christians killed
- 2024: 8,222 Christians killed
- 2025 (Jan-Aug): 7,087 Christians killed
Conditions got dramatically worse, yet the CPC designation remained lifted.
The Trump Administration and New Hope
Congressional action is now moving forward:
The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act is advancing through Congress with bipartisan support. This legislation would:
- Require annual assessment of religious freedom in Nigeria
- Impose sanctions on officials complicit in persecution
- Condition aid on demonstrated progress
- Mandate comprehensive reporting
The Trump administration is considering redesignating Nigeria as a CPC, which would trigger:
- High-level diplomatic engagement
- Potential economic sanctions
- Travel restrictions for officials
- Focused international pressure
What Does Scripture Say About Persecution?
As Christians, we can't approach this purely from a political or human rights angle. We must root our understanding in Scripture.
Jesus Promised This Would Happen
John 15:18-20: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."
Matthew 5:10-12: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Persecution Jesus also commanded us to respond:
Hebrews 13:3: "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."
Matthew 25:35-40: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
We're not called to merely acknowledge persecution exists. We're called to suffer with those who suffer. To remember them as if their chains were our chains. To act as if their pain were our pain.
The Martyrs' Faith
What moves me most is the faith of Nigerian believers themselves. Despite everything, they continue to gather, worship, and witness.
Father Isaac Achi survived the 2011 Boko Haram Christmas bombing that killed 44 people. He was previously kidnapped in 2021. Yet he continued serving his parish anduntil he was burned alive in January 2023.
Why did he stay? Because of passages like Revelation 2:10:
"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown."
The Displacement Crisis: 15 Million Refugees in Their Own Country
The Scale of Forced Migration
12-15 million Christians have been forced from their homes since 2009. That's larger than the entire population of several countries.
Under President Tinubu's administration alone (beginning May 2023), an additional 3 million people were displaced in just two years.
Benue and Plateau states saw over 500,000 displaced in 2025 alone.
When we say "displaced," here's what that actually looks like:
Lost homes: Everything you own burned or left behind. Your family photos. Your children's toys. Your grandmother's Bible. All gone.
Lost livelihoods: These are farming communities. When you're displaced from your land, you lose your means of survival.
Lost education: With 2,200 Christian schools destroyed, children lose access to education. An entire generation's future is stolen.
Lost community: The displacement isn't random;it's strategic. By forcing Christians out of ancestral lands, perpetrators achieve what outright genocide would: the elimination of Christian presence from entire regions.
IDP Camps: Refugees Without Safety
The St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Yelewata was sheltering 700 internally displaced persons when it was attacked. Think about that. People who'd already fled violence once, seeking safety in a church, only to be targeted again.
UNHCR estimates Nigeria hosts 3.5-3.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) nationwide. These aren't people fleeing war zones,they're Christians fleeing persecution in their own country.
Clergy Under Fire: The Targeted Martyrdom of Priests
The Pattern of Kidnapping
145 Catholic priests have been kidnapped in the past decade. 250+ Catholic priests kidnapped since 2015, plus 350 clerics from other denominations.
In 2023 alone, 25 priests and seminarians were kidnapped.the highest number globally. 3 clergy were murdered, including Father Isaac Achi who was burned alive.
Why target priests?
1. Ransom value: Churches and communities will pay to get their spiritual leaders back.
2. Symbolic impact: Killing a priest sends a message that terrorizes entire congregations.
3. Leadership elimination: Remove the shepherds, scatter the sheep.
4. Spiritual warfare: There's a demonic dimension to targeting those who administer sacraments and shepherd souls.
Father Isaac Achi: A Martyr's Story
Let me tell you about Father Isaac Achi in detail, because his story encapsulates everything:
January 15, 2023: Armed terrorists attacked the parish residence at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin-Koro, Niger State at 3:00 AM.
Unable to breach the building, they set it ablaze. Father Achi was burned alive while trapped inside. Father Collins Omeh, who was with him, testified that attackers shouted "Allahu Akbar" and held them at gunpoint before igniting the fire.
But here's what makes this even more profound: Father Achi had survived the 2011 Boko Haram Christmas bombing in Madalla that killed 44 people. He'd been previously kidnapped in 2021.
He knew the risks. He stayed anyway.
"We must be tried if we believe in Jesus. Even though He came to this world, He was persecuted. That's a message for us that we may face difficulty, but we can stand firm in Christ." but Safiratu, forced marriage survivor
Practical Steps for the Global Church
This is where I struggled most writing this article. It's easy to document atrocities. It's harder to know what to DO about them.
But here's what I've learned: Doing nothing is not an option.
1. Pray Specifically and Strategically
Don't just pray "for Christians in Nigeria." Pray for:
- Benue, Plateau, and Kaduna states by name
- The Diocese of Makurdi and Bishop Wilfred Anagbe
- Governor Caleb Mutfwang who's calling this genocide
- Displaced families in IDP camps
- Kidnapped priests by name when known
- Perpetrators' hearts to be changed
- Government officials to act justly
Use tools like Open Doors' prayer map to stay updated.
2. Give to Organizations Doing Ground-Level Work
These organizations are actually there, helping Nigerian Christians:
- Open Doors: Supports persecuted Christians globally
- International Christian Concern: Direct aid and advocacy
- Aid to the Church in Need: Catholic relief organization
- Christian Solidarity International: Active in Nigeria
- Voice of the Martyrs: Supporting families of martyrs
3. Advocate Politically
Contact your representatives:
- Support the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act
- Urge CPC redesignation for Nigeria
- Demand media coverage of the crisis
- Push for sanctions on complicit officials
Use resources from US Commission on International Religious Freedom to inform your advocacy.
4. Break the Media Blackout
Share verified information:
- Post statistics from credible sources
- Share survivor testimonies
- Use hashtags: #NigeriaChristians #PersecutedChurch #RememberTheMartyrs
- Challenge media outlets when they ignore or minimize the religious dimension
But be careful: Verify sources. Don't share unconfirmed reports. Stick to documentation from Open Doors, USCIRF, ICC, Amnesty International, etc.
5. Educate Your Church
Most Christians simply don't know this is happening. Here's how to change that:
- Ask your pastor to dedicate a Sunday to persecuted Christians
- Start a prayer group focused on the persecuted church
- Show documentaries like "Genocide in Nigeria: The Untold Story"
- Invite speakers from advocacy organizations
- Include Nigerian Christians in your missions focus
6. Support Displaced Christians Financially
Organizations like Intersociety and local Nigerian churches need funds for:
- Food and shelter for IDP camps
- Medical care for attack survivors
- Rebuilding destroyed churches
- Education for displaced children
- Trauma counseling
7. Use Technology for Good
As someone who built FaithGPT, I believe tech can help:
- Document and preserve testimonies before they're forgotten
- Create awareness through digital campaigns
- Connect Western Christians with Nigerian believers
- Fund relief efforts through secure platforms
- Advocate through coordinated online action
8. Live Out Hebrews 13:3
"Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies."
This isn't optional. If a member of our physical body were being tortured, we wouldn't ignore it. Nigerian Christians are part of the Body of Christ. Their suffering should be our suffering.
A Word to My Fellow Tech Workers and AI Enthusiasts
I know many of you reading this work in tech. You're fascinated by AI, like me. You're building cool products, following the latest developments.
But here's my challenge: What if we used our platforms, our influence, and our resources for something that matters eternally?
I created FaithGPT to help Christians engage with Scripture better. That's important work. But helping suffering believers is equally important.
What if you:
- Built apps to connect Western Christians with persecuted believers?
- Created platforms to document and preserve martyrs' testimonies?
- Developed AI tools to analyze and expose media bias in covering persecution?
- Used your social media influence to break the blackout?
- Donated a percentage of your income to organizations helping Nigerian Christians?
We have skills, platforms, and resources that previous generations didn't have. Let's use them for the Kingdom.
The Theological Reality: This is Spiritual Warfare
I can't end this without addressing the spiritual dimension.
Ephesians 6:12 says: "For our struggle is against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Yes, there are human perpetrators: Boko Haram fighters, Fulani militants, corrupt government officials. But behind them is a demonic agenda to eliminate Christianity from Nigeria.
Consider:
- Attacks timed for Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter
- Churches specifically targeted and burned
- Priests kidnapped and murdered at unprecedented rates
- The stated goal of some groups to eliminate Christianity
This is Satan attempting to destroy the African church.one of the fastest-growing Christian populations in the world.
Our Weapons Are Not Carnal
2 Corinthians 10:3-4: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
Our weapons:
- Prayer that moves mountains
- Worship that breaks chains
- Intercession that shifts atmospheres
- Faith that overcomes the world
- Love that casts out fear
- Truth that exposes darkness
But don't mistake spiritual warfare for inaction. Prayer should propel us to action, not replace it.
Conclusion: The Blood of Martyrs and the Call of Christ
Tertullian famously wrote: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."
Throughout history, persecution has never destroyed the church-it's strengthened it. The early church grew fastest under Roman persecution. The Chinese church exploded during Communist oppression. The church in Iran is multiplying underground despite severe persecution.
Nigerian Christians are writing the latest chapter in this story.
But here's what keeps me up at night: And what if our chapter is about comfort, apathy, and distraction while our brothers and sisters are burned alive?
Romans 12:15 says: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
We're really good at the first part. We love celebrating victories, answered prayers, and blessings.
But are we mourning with those who mourn?
The Question Before Us
Here's the question I've been wrestling with as I've researched and written this:
What does it mean to be part of the global Body of Christ if we can ignore 35 daily martyrdoms?
If my physical body had a limb being tortured daily, I couldn't ignore it. I'd be consumed with stopping the pain. I'd dedicate every resource to healing.
But somehow, we've learned to compartmentalize suffering in the Body of Christ. "That's happening over there. It's complicated. I have my own problems."
A Call to Action
I'm not asking you to quit your job and move to Nigeria (though if God calls you, go). I'm asking you to:
1. Actually care. Let this break your heart the way it breaks Jesus's heart.
2. Interrupt your routine. Dedicate time;real, consistent time orto prayer, learning, and action.
3. Use your voice. Your social media, your workplace, your church, your dinner table ortalk about this.
4. Give sacrificially. Not spare change. Real money that affects your budget.
5. Advocate persistently. Contact representatives. Challenge media. Don't stop.
6. Build bridges. Connect with Nigerian Christians. Hear their stories directly.
7. Raise the next generation. Teach your kids about the persecuted church. Make it part of your family discipleship.
Final Words from Nigerian Believers
I want to end with words from Habila, a survivor who testified before Congress after being shot and left for dead by Boko Haram:
"I am alive because God wants you to have this message;knowing Christ is so much deeper than merely knowing Boko Haram's story of hate and intolerance... Do everything you can to end this ruthless religious persecution…but know Christ first."
Know Christ first.
That's the foundation. Knowing Christ means knowing His heart for the suffering. Knowing His command to remember those in chains. Knowing His love for the global church.
And then, do everything you can to end this persecution.
The Nigerian Christians aren't asking for pity. They're not asking us to "save" them. They're asking us to remember them. To stand with them. To amplify their voices when the world tries to silence their suffering.
Will you?
Matthew 25:40: "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
When we serve persecuted Nigerian Christians, we serve Jesus Himself.
Let's remember. Let's mourn. Let's act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this really about religion, or is it just economic conflict over resources?
A: While some claim it's purely about "grazing rights" or "climate change," the data tells a different story. Christians make up roughly 50% of Nigeria's population but account for 76.7% of targeted killings. Attacks specifically target churches, occur on Christian holidays (Christmas, Easter, Palm Sunday), and perpetrators often shout "Allahu Akbar." The systematic destruction of 19,100 churches can't be explained by economic factors alone.
Q: Why isn't this getting more media coverage?
A: A study analyzing 35,000+ BBC articles found roughly a 100:1 coverage disparity between conflicts like Gaza and Nigerian Christian persecution. Factors include geopolitical considerations (Nigeria is Africa's largest economy), narrative discomfort, Nigerian government lobbying efforts, and the complexity of the Fulani herder angle providing cover to avoid religious dimensions.
Q: What's the U.S. government doing about this?
A: Unfortunately, the Biden administration removed Nigeria from the Country of Particular Concern list in 2021, despite consistent recommendations from USCIRF to the contrary. Congress is advancing the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act with bipartisan support, and the Trump administration is considering redesignating Nigeria as a CPC.
Q: How can I verify these statistics aren't exaggerated?
A: The data comes from multiple independent sources including Open Doors International, US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), International Christian Concern, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UN agencies like UNHCR. When different methodologies produce different numbers, I've provided ranges and cited specific sources for each statistic.
Q: What organizations can I donate to that directly help Nigerian Christians?
A: Credible organizations with ground-level operations include Open Doors USA, International Christian Concern, Aid to the Church in Need, Christian Solidarity International, and Voice of the Martyrs. Research their financial transparency before giving.
Q: Are Nigerian Christians fleeing or staying?
A: Both. 12-15 million have been displaced, but many are moving to other parts of Nigeria rather than leaving the country entirely. Remarkably, many Christians andincluding priests like Father Isaac Achi.choose to stay and continue ministry despite knowing the risks.
Q: What's being done to hold perpetrators accountable?
A: Very little, which is part of the problem. There's near-total impunity for attackers. Arrests are rare, prosecutions even rarer, and convictions virtually non-existent. This pattern of impunity has been documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and USCIRF.
Q: How does this compare to other instances of Christian persecution globally?
A: Nigeria accounts for 69-90% of all Christians killed globally for their faith, according to Open Doors' World Watch List. The scale and intensity of violence in Nigeria currently exceeds other persecution hotspots like North Korea, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.
Q: Is there hope for the situation to improve?
A: Long-term improvement requires international pressure, accountability for perpetrators, honest media coverage, government action, and sustained church advocacy. Congressional legislation and potential CPC redesignation could create pressure for change. without decisive action, experts warn Christianity could be eliminated from parts of Nigeria within decades.
Q: As a Christian, how should I pray specifically for Nigeria?
A: Pray for specific states (Benue, Plateau, Kaduna), for named leaders like Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Governor Caleb Mutfwang, for displaced families in IDP camps, for kidnapped priests by name, for government officials to act justly, for perpetrators' hearts to change, and for the global church to wake up to this crisis. Use Open Doors' prayer resources to stay informed and pray strategically.
Author Bio: Tonye Brown is a Christian software developer, husband, father, and creator of FaithGPT andan AI-powered Bible study platform. He writes about the intersection of faith, technology, and Christian living, with a passion for helping believers engage Scripture and stand with the persecuted church worldwide.
If this article moved you, please share it. Nigerian Christians need our voices when theirs are being silenced by violence. Use #RememberNigeriaChristians #PersecutedChurch to spread awareness. Learn more in Justice, Compassion, and Border Ethics.
