Nigeria’s Christian Community Faces Ongoing Persecution
Nigeria’s Christians, nearly half the nation’s population, have displayed “remarkable resilience and faith” amid severe persecution, according to Ryan Braun, CEO of Open Doors, speaking to Breitbart News over the weekend.
Open Doors, a humanitarian organization focused on aiding persecuted Christians worldwide, has released its annual world watch list. Nigeria ranks seventh this year, affected by targeted jihadist attacks from groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State, among others.
According to Open Doors, “Violence in Nigeria remains rampant, keeping the country in the top 10 of global watch lists. Many attacks from Islamic extremist groups have resulted in the deaths or displacement of hundreds of Christians.” The report further notes that “most of these attacks are attributed to extremist Fulani herdsmen targeting Christian communities, causing millions of Christians to flee. Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province also contribute to this violence, along with new extremist factions that are emerging.”
With over 100 million Christians, Nigeria witnesses genocidal violence against them that has persisted for more than a decade. To put this into context, Pakistan, the second-highest ranking country, has approximately 4.8 million Christians. Christians make up around 45 percent of Nigeria’s population—most are located in the Middle Belt and southern regions, while Muslims predominantly reside in the north.
Persecution endures even as Nigeria goes through various presidential administrations. The current president, Bola Tinubu, pledges to combat the surging violence but has faced backlash for perceived inaction regarding Christian protection. Under former President Donald Trump, Nigeria was placed on the State Department’s list of countries of particular concern for religious persecution, and coordination for airstrikes against terrorists in northwestern Nigeria has occurred.
Open Doors monitors persecution by assessing how Christians are pressured in different aspects of life. The organization ranks countries based on the violence Christians experience.
Braun revealed that “Nigeria has recorded the highest violence score (16.7 out of 16.7) for eight years in a row.” In the most recent reporting, 3,490 Nigerian Christians were murdered for their faith—this marked a rise from 3,100 the previous year, making Nigeria the country with the most Christian deaths.
He explained, “The violence against Christians in Nigeria stems from a complex mix of Islamic extremism, ethnic strife, poor governance, organized crime, and resource competition.” Various groups, including Boko Haram, ISWA, and Fulani extremists, as well as newer factions like Rakulawa, consistently target Christian communities.
The annual global watchlist period wraps up on September 30. While Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a CPC came on October 31, it didn’t influence this year’s scoring but will affect future evaluations.
Braun mentioned that anecdotal reports from local partners indicate there have been casualties among the bases of these groups targeted by the U.S., though it’s uncertain how significant this impact will be on local persecution. “It’s tricky to speculate,” he noted, reaffirming Open Doors’ commitment to provide “trauma care, emergency relief, and persecution preparedness” regardless of external political actions.
He further emphasized the strength of the Church in Nigeria, stating, “They’ve shown extraordinary resilience and faith despite enduring years of violence.”
In December, Trump approved military operations against remnants of ISIS in northwest Nigeria and announced it on Christmas Day. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he warned terrorists of severe consequences if they didn’t stop attacking Christians. “The Department of the Army has executed many precise strikes, something only the United States can accomplish,” he stated.
Trump’s comments drew global concern, but Tinubu’s administration clarified that Trump did not act unilaterally without consulting Nigeria, framing the military action as proof of Tinubu’s seriousness in addressing persecution.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tugar, assured that this action “clear[ed] any doubts” regarding the Tinubu administration’s commitment to combating terrorism, as reported by CNN.
The latest World Watchlist indicates that 388 million Christians live in regions where they face serious persecution due to their faith. North Korea remains at the top as the most oppressive nation, with its regime treating Christianity as an imperial threat. In the wake of regime changes, Syria has also recently seen a spike in violence against Christians, particularly linked to factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
