NIGERIA: Over 8,000 Christians Killed or Kidnapped Last Year

19 April 2023

Source: International Christian Concern

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law recently released a report estimating that, in 2022 alone, over 5,000 Nigerian Christians were killed and over 3,000 were kidnapped.

The report came as religious freedom advocates have said that the persecution of Christians in Nigeria should be considered genocide. The estimates in the report were drawn from a variety of sources, including government reports, NGO statistics, media outlets, and estimates from diplomats. The report went on to state that 1,000 Christians have been killed already in 2023.

Those carrying out these attacks and kidnappings are believed to be members of radical Islamic terror groups, including Fulani herdsmen groups, Boko Haram, and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province). The report also holds the Nigerian military responsible for some of the killings. Nigerian Christians have long been calling for the government to do more to stop the killings and have even accused political leaders of encouraging the violence.

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Ask the Lord to frustrate the plans of the wicked and bring an end to their evil schemes.

Pray the church will be strengthened by the Lord and that they would encourage each other to show great love and care to their neighbours and forgiveness to those who have done them great harm. In doing so, may they be a powerful witness for the gospel.

Pray that more Fulani will come to Christ through a new outreach in northeastern Nigeria. Ask the Lord to be at work in the hearts and minds of many militant Islamists to bring true conviction and repentance.