There are more Christians who are persecuted today than at any time in history.
And yet the media… even the pulpits ignore it.
For example, starting at Christmas and continuing into the new year, over 200 Christians have been killed and attacked in over 30 different villages and towns in Nigeria alone.
Here are 6 things you should know…
1) Christians targeted for genocide in Nigeria
Up to 500 Christians were attacked by Islamic militants in Nigeria on Christmas Eve. Over 200 were confirmed dead, and roughly 300 were injured in the attacks, which were carried out in 30 villages across the north.
Since 2000, over 62,000 Nigerian Christians have been killed by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram, and over 18,000 churches, 2200 Christian schools, and other Christian learning centers have been burned to the ground.
Why?
Because of Jesus.
Because these people believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and are not ashamed of the gospel.
2) Some little-known facts about Nigeria
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with over 230 million people.
Almost half the population is Muslim, and around 46% are Christian.
Nigeria had the largest Christian population of any country in Africa, with more than 80 million people in Nigeria belonging to various denominations, according to the Pew Research Center.
But by 2020, the Christian population accounted for an estimated 46.18% of the Nigerian population.
The northern part of the country is mostly Muslim, and the eastern and southern parts are Christian. The middle of the country, referred to as the middle belt, is ethnically and religiously diverse.
Christianity came to Nigeria in the 15th century through Augustinian and Capuchin monks from Portugal.
There are now nearly 658 million Christians in Africa or around 49.0% of the continent.
Nigeria’s current president, Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, is a Muslim and did not select a Christian as vice president (breaking with tradition), so it’s not expected that he will help the Christians in his country.
Although he promised to do something about the Christian genocide, he has done nothing to stop the attacks, forcing even Amnesty International to call out the Nigerian president, saying, “His brazen failures are becoming the norm.”
3) The Biden Administration and the State Department are ignoring the genocide
U.S. aid to Nigeria is a little over $828 million (this does not include humanitarian aid) a year. Combined with other countries, Nigeria receives over $1.8 billion in aid.
However, the Biden administration has done nothing to hold back aid from Nigeria until they stop the attacks on Christians.
In fact, the Biden administration blames the death and destruction in Nigeria on climate change.
4) Nigeria is the 6th most dangerous place to live for Christians
Open Doors, a non-denominational mission supporting persecuted Christians in the world, ranks Nigeria #6 on its annual World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
In 2022, Open Doors reported over 5,000 Nigerian Christians were killed because of their faith.
Intersociety, a Nigerian non-governmental organization, reported that since 2009, roughly 52,000 Christians have been killed by Jihadist forces. These Jihadists have also burned down over 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools.
5) Islamic history of death and destruction
Islamic death and destruction in Nigeria dates back to the 17th century.
Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of the state of Plateau, said, “For anyone to deny that these attacks were not due to militant Islam is pure propaganda.” He also called the recent Christmas killings a “Christmas genocide.”
6) A nation in spiritual conflict
As Christianity grows in Africa, Christians need to understand and remember the spiritual root of the conflicts in Nigeria and that the “enemy” wants to stop their growth.
It’s not a surprise that Satan has been targeting Christians and influencing all the death and destruction in the region.
Action Steps:
What you can do to help
- Pray for the Christians in Nigeria.
- Vote for a candidate who will help the persecuted church—Use the Voter Guide.
- Read and send my book to friends and family, The Christian Voter: How to Vote For, Not Against, Your Values to Transform Culture and Politics, chapter 12, Helping the Persecuted Church
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