3 Things to Know about the Persecution of Nigerian Christians
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By Amber Ginter, Crosswalk.com
Did you know that Nigeria is one of the deadliest countries for Christians? With thousands killed in recent years amid ongoing violence and religious tension, television host and comedian Bill Maher notes that what's been happening is considered mass "genocide." If you're unfamiliar with the term, "genocide" refers to the mass extermination of a people group. It was most commonly coined during Hitler's persecution of the Jews or during Joseph Stalin's Russian Revolution. Sadly, genocide is far from being eradicated in today's society; it just goes under wraps more than we'd like to admit.
Today, Christian persecution is sweeping the headlines. Experts emphasize that the increasing crisis has not only involved religion, but also politics, poverty, and security. In the mess of news stories and interviews, how can we clarify what's really happening? More importantly, what should we as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ understand beyond the headlines? For months, politicians in Washington have protested that Islamist militants were systematically targeting Christians in Nigeria.
According to the BBC, recent threats have been the last straw. President Trump hasn't just issued a threat to the Nigerian government if they continue to allow the "killing of Christians," but that he pledged to "do things to Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about" and "go into that now-disgraced country guns-a-blazing." Scripturally, we know that more violence is never the solution to violence (Matthew 26:52). However, these recent affairs call for justice and action.
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Here are three things to know about the recent persecution of Nigerian Christians:
1. The Violence Is Real, but the Causes Are Complex
While I wish I could write that the persecution isn't true, I can't. Christian persecution isn't just happening, but it's occurring rapidly and in mass accounts. According to reports on the Boko Harum Group, Nigeria has killed over 100,000 Christians since 2009 and burned 18,000 churches. Many of these accounts have been reported, but it's also suspected that many cases of persecution also go undetected.
In many northern and central regions of Nigeria, Christians have suffered deadly attacks. From church burnings to kidnappings and murders, states like Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue are at the top of the list. Sadly, this violence isn't just driven by religion, but by ethnic and resource tensions between largely Muslim Fulani herders and predominantly Christian farming communities. The competition over land and grazing rights has reached new heights, worsened by climate change, population growth, and weak governance.
Confidence McHarry, a senior security analyst at Africa-focussed consultancy SBM Intelligence, explains this tension well: "It might be ethnic in nature - they're seeking to grab lands, they're seeking to expand territory, but the more they displace communities and the more they attack worship centres, the more these things tend to get looked at in that light.”
With the addition and role of extremist groups like the Boko Haram and ISWAP added to this fire, groups that explicitly target Christians, but operate alongside other local conflicts, Christians are in danger: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria," said Trump, but other groups are at risk as well. It's not simply a matter of one group versus the other, but a tangled mess of ethnic, economic, and political issues. Amid the web, one thing is certain: Calling this crisis "religious" doesn't just oversimplify the issue, but should draw our attention to it further.
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2. The Nigerian Government Denies Religious Persecution
Despite the claims and confident accusations, PBS NewsHour flashes back to Trump's administrative coverage in 2020, claiming that Nigeria was targeting Christians. Nigerian Government officials haven't just rejected this accusation, but asserted that violence affects all communities. Noting that the state is doing everything it can to contain insecurity, doubts have arisen. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reports that the Nigerian government is committed to combating violent extremism regardless of who is being persecuted. In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, Tinubu added that they've never had any form of policy targeting any group based on religion and that the government is cautious about acknowledging religious persecution towards any group. This is because doing so could affect international reputation, aid, and internal unity.
On the flip side, human rights organizations like Open Doors and Amnesty International beg to differ, reporting a disproportionate number of Christian casualties. Christian leaders and observers like these argue that the denial doesn't just sting, but it allows the violence to be swept under the rug. If these actions continue, the violence will remain unchecked. Is Nigeria's government in the right to resist "religious persecution" as a label? Even for the sake of accountability or global responses?
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3. Global Awareness Is Rising, but Action Is Slow
According to Open Door's World Watch List for Christian persecution, Nigeria tops the list, ranking at number 7. How are these Christians specifically persecuted? Islamic oppression, ethno-religious hostility, dictatorial paranoia, and organized corruption and crime, to name a few. But while international faith and advocacy groups have taken a stand and both U.S. and U.K. organizations have pressured Nigeria to improve protection for religious minorities, limited aid and intervention remain.
Between conflicting news channels and sources, media narratives differ. Western coverage highlights Christian genocide, but local sources highlight banditry and terrorism. Sadly, several attacks are unreported, and victims often go unnamed. This is common not just with Christian persecution, but persecution and violence in general. Think about human trafficking, for instance. Hundreds of cases go unknown until it's too late. When will society learn to take a stand?
If we want to see change, we must learn to act not out of defensiveness, but with dignity for all human rights. This is what Bulama, a human rights advocate, notes. In his response, Bulama believes the Nigerian government can address Trump’s criticism by “moving beyond defensiveness. It should meet misinformation with data,” he suggested, adding that “this moment calls for candor, not posturing. Constructive dialogue, not social-media outrage, will best serve Nigeria’s interests — and the cause of peace,” he advised. Maybe we should all strive for a bit more moments of peace in our conversations? A little less of the news and a little more of constructive dialogue with our neighbors?
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A Call to Action
Today, the global Church's role in addressing persecution is twofold: to raise awareness and to support peacebuilding, relief, and advocacy for all. The violence many around the world are facing is real and complex. Government agencies are complicated, and when one denies religious persecution, it can be challenging to get a foot forward. Likewise, international awareness might be growing, but it's slow to translate into actual, practical change.
So, what can we do? We can acknowledge the pain of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we can also pray for them. We can pray for God to soften the hearts of Nigerian leaders and be open to protecting those of all religions who are facing immense persecution. We can also advocate, take a stand, and stay informed beyond simplified or biased narratives. The threat of so many Christians is terrifying, but it's also a bold testimony to their faith. Let us take a stand against the darkness, even when darkness is eager to persist.
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