Nigeria could, on the global stage, be categorized as one of the most perilous countries for the practice of religions,” reports ‘Portas Abertas’ , a Brazilian Christian news outlet
The recently released report from the Nigerian non-governmental organization, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), reveals that over 50,000 Christians have lost their lives in Nigeria since the onset of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in 2009. This tragic number includes more than 30,000 victims during the eight-year presidency of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Additionally, 18,000 Christian churches and 2,200 Christian schools were set ablaze during this period, while approximately 34,000 moderate Muslims also lost their lives in Islamist attacks.
Furthermore, in the year 2023 alone, over 1,000 Christians have been killed. Kidnappings have also been a grave issue, with at least 707 Christians abducted, notably in Northern Nigerian Niger State and Kaduna, among other affected states.
It’s important to note that Christians face threats not only from Boko Haram but also from ethnic Fulani Muslim herders who have joined extremist groups. These attacks have resulted in mass displacement, forcing approximately 5 million Christians into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps within Nigeria and refugee camps along regional and sub-regional borders, as detailed in the Intersociety report.
More than 5,000 Christian deaths have occurred in Nigeria, accounting for 89% of the total murders documented in the LMP 2023 report. Violence has spread to the southern part of the country, where Fulani extremists and criminals have established themselves in the forests. Christian girls and women are subjected to harassment, physical and sexual assault, and forced marriages to radical soldiers.
In recent times, Ìsèsè practitioners, the indigenous Yorúbà religion, have become embroiled in a battle. It’s a battle over whose God is more Supreme, as they argue about the gods who speak through Idols, crucifixes, and more.
Nigeria, according to its constitution, is a secular state where all religions and gods are allowed. This attitude has contributed to Nigeria being perceived as one of the deadliest countries for tourism. The religious conflicts that originated from the introduction of Christianity and Islam to Nigeria have deterred visitors.
“I will not visit Nigeria again; you are killing each other over foreign religions,” says Iya Paula de Oya, a Brazilian Iyalorisa.
Religious intolerance erects barriers that discourage tourists seeking cultural immersion. Travelers may hesitate to explore destinations where religious diversity isn’t respected. Embracing religious tolerance can unlock tourism’s potential, attracting a diverse range of travelers and fostering intercultural exchange. Let’s build bridges and welcome all to experience the beauty of our shared world.”
Christians in Nigeria face persecution from an organized agenda of Islamization, which is most prevalent in the northern region and has gradually extended to the south. Since the northern states declared allegiance to Sharia (Islamic law) in 1999, this Islamization has gained momentum through both violent and non-violent means.”
Open Doors, a non-denominational organization dedicated to supporting persecuted Christians worldwide, has declared Nigeria as the most perilous place for Christians to reside. In the first three months of 2023 alone, a staggering 896 civilians have lost their lives in violent attacks within Nigeria. Shockingly, a significant portion of these casualties comprises Christians who were brutally murdered solely because of their faith.
Open Doors relies on a report by SBM Intelligence, a Nigerian-based research firm, to shed light on the alarming number of killings plaguing this West African nation. The responsibility for these attacks falls on the shoulders of Islamist extremist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as militant Fulani herdsmen, bandits, and violent gangs.
Worryingly, Open Doors notes that these groups appear to be collaborating, thereby intensifying the impact of their violence. According to the organization, more Christians are persecuted for their faith in Nigeria than in the entire rest of the world combined.
Illia Djadi, an Open Doors analyst specializing in sub-Saharan Africa, aptly summarizes the dire situation: “Nigeria is currently one of the scariest places to be a Christian.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with over 200 million inhabitants, is roughly divided between Muslims, predominantly residing in the north, and Christians, who are mostly concentrated in the south. In recognition of this severe situation, Nigeria was named the world’s worst persecutor in the ICC’s Persecutor of the Year Awards last year.
Jeff King, the President of the ICC, highlights the harrowing plight of Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, describing it as a two-decade-long genocide. He questions the lack of meaningful action and the absence of international outcry, particularly since Nigeria’s military, police, and intelligence agencies are predominantly controlled by Muslims. The world is no longer content with mere rhetoric and hollow statements. Serious questions are being raised about the Nigerian government’s involvement in these attacks, signaling that a critical turning point may be imminent.”
According to Crux , Cameroon –Nigeria is the “biggest killing ground of Christians in the world” due to attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani militants, says a leading charity.
International Christian Concern (ICC) estimates between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians have been killed in the last decade in the West African nation, the most populous on the continent.
Nigeria’s 206 million people are almost evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. Islam is the dominant faith in the North, and Christianity in the South – but most of the killings take place in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where the halves of the country meet.
Attacks by Fulani herders in particular have had a devastating effect on Christian farmers -thousands have fled, leaving behind fertile farmlands.
Without the access to their land, they no longer have the ability to grow food to sustain themselves and their families. It is also hurting the larger community as a whole as there are known food shortages throughout northern Nigeria,” Nathan Johnson – ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa – told Crux.
The MNN , USA reports Nigeria moved up to sixth place on the 2023 World Watch List, which ranks the top 50 countries with the worst Christian persecution. The previous year, Nigeria ranked in seventh place.
