Christians in northeastern Nigeria are under tremendous pressure from Islamic extremists, according to a local lawyer in the region. Catherine Ila Kwaltings says Christian girls and women face constant attacks and targeted kidnappings.
“As a civilian lawyer, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of terrorist activities against Christians,” she said. “Here in Bauchi State, Christians are experiencing severe persecution and kidnapping by local extremists.”
Kwaltings said that in the 10 years since he began practicing law in Bauchi, he has handled at least 15 different cases involving kidnapping and other forms of violence against Christian women and girls.
Earlier this year, she recently handled the case before an Islamic court of a Christian woman from Bauchi, Alkareri town, who was beaten and seriously injured at work.
“I was deeply shaken by the brutality committed against this woman. The Muslim man who assaulted this woman was arrested, tried and convicted. Thankfully, he received 4 years in prison. He was sentenced to 500,000 naira ($630) and ordered to pay the woman 500,000 naira ($630).
Kwaltings has been involved in a number of kidnapping cases, including a serious one in May 2023 involving a 13-year-old Christian girl named Grace. She was kidnapped from her parents, taken to an imam's house and forced to convert her to Islam.
“When I heard about this incident, I decided to intervene,” Kwaltings said. “I have challenged her conversion in an Islamic court. According to the Nigerian constitution, individuals under the age of 18 cannot undergo such conversion.”
“Even if this conversion was of her own free will, as her leaders claimed, her age meant that she was not yet fully capable of making this decision and that she would not be returned to her parents. I explained that it was an indication that I needed to be taken care of.”
Due to Kwaltings' intervention, Grace is returned to her family.
“My advice to Christians facing persecution in Nigeria is to be courageous and speak out whenever you are being persecuted,” Kwaltings said. “Let our voices be heard. And just as Jesus Christ loved his church, and as the Christian faith teaches us to show love to others, we also love peace. We should strive to be the ones who make it happen.”
“I call on Christians around the world to stand with our fellow Christians when they are persecuted,” she said.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Nar-Edom
worldwide christian salvation (GCR) is a leading American watchdog organization focused on the plight of persecuted Christians around the world. In addition to enabling the Western Church to defend and pray for the persecuted, the GCR protects and encourages Christians threatened by faith-based discrimination and violence in the most restrictive countries. I am working for this purpose.
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