Nigeria’s Christian Genocide: A Call for Justice and National Reawakening__ EgbemaVoice Editorial Board,

Nigeria’s Christian Genocide: A Call for Justice and National Reawakening

By EgbemaVoice Editorial Board

Nigeria’s Christian communities have, for decades, endured unimaginable suffering in the hands of violent extremists and armed bandits, particularly in the northern regions the North East and the Middle Belt. Thousands of innocent citizens have been killed, churches burned, and priests, pastors, and missionaries brutally murdered in cold blood.

The persistent attacks by extremist groups have left many communities in ruins. Villages once filled with life and worship now stand deserted, while many families continue to grieve their loved ones. Those who set out to spread the gospel have been ambushed, stoned, or burned alive. These tragedies reflect the painful reality of a country where the sanctity of human life is fast losing meaning.

It is deeply troubling that successive governments have failed to deliver justice. In several cases, perpetrators are neither prosecuted nor held accountable. Reports indicate that some suspects arrested for these heinous crimes are released without due process — a development that fuels public frustration and weakens confidence in the justice system.

Nigeria has become a country where the law binds some individuals but seems powerless against others. Such selective justice endangers national unity and strengthens impunity.

However, it must also be acknowledged that these extremist groups have caused immense suffering among Muslims as well. Many Muslim communities, too, have been attacked by the same militant elements. Mosques have been destroyed, security personnel slain, and millions displaced. The crisis, therefore, transcends religion  it is a national tragedy rooted in insecurity, corruption, and poor governance.

The Nigerian military and security agencies continue to lose brave men and women in the fight against insurgency. Yet, their sacrifices often go unappreciated because of a system that lacks accountability and effective leadership.

The international community, including the United States, has expressed concern over the continuous killing of Christians in Nigeria. Former U.S. President Donald Trump once issued a stern warning about military intervention should the Nigerian government fail to protect Christians and stop religious killings. While such external pressure underscores global attention, the lasting solution must come from within through justice, equity, and responsible governance.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The cries of the oppressed Christian, Muslim, and all victims of violence call for urgent reform. The government must rise above religious and political bias, strengthen the rule of law, and ensure equal protection for every citizen.

Until justice becomes the foundation of leadership, peace will remain a distant dream.

Nigeria’s Christian Communities under Siege — The Time for Action is Now

Over the past decade and a half, Nigeria’s Christian population has endured a sustained campaign of violence, displacement and fear. Those suffering are not only rural worshippers and pastors, but whole communities whose livelihoods, faith and futures are under threat.

Below we set out the scale of the crisis, highlight key incidents, then issue a call to the international community for urgent intervention.

1. The Scale of the Killings

A report by Intersociety shows that since 2009 at least 52,250 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria. 

Among these, around 30,250 Christian deaths occurred between 2015 and 2023, the period of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency. 

In the first seven months of 2025 alone, over 7,087 Christians were killed and about 7,800 abducted simply for being Christian. That averages about 30–32 Christian lives lost each day. 

In a broader view, from October 2019 to September 2023, more than 55,910 people died in ethnic and religious violence in Nigeria; of the civilian victims, at least 16,769 Christians were killed, compared to 6,235 Muslims and 154 adherents of traditional religions. 

Churches and schools have also suffered massively: Between 2009 and recent years, some 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools were reported destroyed or burned. 

2. Geographic Patterns & Sample Incidents

The most affected regions include the Middle Belt-North Central (states such as Benue State, Plateau State, Kaduna State, Taraba State) and the North East (e.g., Boko Haram and its splinter groups). 

A recent strike: In May 2025, in Benue State, four communities were attacked across two days; 42 people were killed, including women and children, and a priest critically injured. The violence has been attributed to itinerant herders and militants operating under religious and ethnic cover. 

Systemic data: A church‐report noted that 100 churches are attacked every month in Nigeria (about 3 each day), with 19,100 attacks recorded over 16 years. 

3. Root Causes & Structures of Persecution

Many of these attacks are carried out by farming/herding militias (often ethnically Fulani, Muslim-led) who target Christian farming communities in the Middle Belt, sometimes under the guise of land/ resource conflict. 

Islamist insurgent groups Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and others also target Christian communities in the North East for brutal killings, kidnappings and church burnings. 

Displacement is enormous: Reports suggest 14 million Christians have been uprooted, and 8 million forced to flee their homes to escape violence. 

4. Failure of Justice & Calls for Accountability

Despite the scale of the violence, prosecutions are rare and the justice system often fails to hold perpetrators accountable. This fuels impunity and deepens fear among victim communities.

The Nigerian government’s response has been inconsistent; many victims and observers believe that Christian communities are insufficiently protected and that religious bias persists in some security/institutional responses.

Internationally, the situation has drawn warnings: The U.S. has flagged Nigeria as a country of concern over religious persecution; pressure is mounting for stronger global engagement. 

5. A Call to the International Community

We issue the following urgent appeals:

To the United Nations & the Human Rights Council: Recognise the scale and specificity of the violence against Christians (and other religious minorities) in Nigeria; consider a special monitoring mission.

To foreign governments (USA, EU, UK, Canada, etc.): Condition military/security aid to Nigeria on measurable progress in protecting religious minorities, prosecuting perpetrators, and ensuring equity in protection for all faiths.

To international faith and civil society organisations: Increase humanitarian support for displaced Christian communities, provide legal-aid support for victims, and raise global awareness of the crisis.

To the Nigerian government: Strengthen faith-based protections, reform security for vulnerable communities (especially in the Middle Belt and North East), ensure victims are heard, offenders are tried, and full transparency is maintained in prosecution and rehousing efforts.

6. Final Word

The Christian population of Nigeria is not merely suffering from abstract “violence”  entire villages are being emptied, pastors killed, churches burned, families uprooted, and hope shattered. The numbers — over 52,000 Christian murders since 2009, thousands abducted and millions displaced — demand more than sorrow: they demand action.

The world cannot afford to look away. When one community loses faith in the state’s ability to protect, the entire social fabric is at risk. For the sake of Nigeria’s future, for the sake of justice, and for the dignity of every human being, the time is now to act.

Written from EgbemaVoice Editorial Board