Written by Rachel
As a mission-oriented woman, passionate about winning souls for Christ and seeing to the well-being of mankind, I have been actively involved with Baptist women in local communities across Nigeria for many years. I work towards empowering, educating, and engaging them in various capacities. My work focuses on planning, strategizing, counseling, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating the following areas: Personnel — leaders and the led; Programs — leadership workshops and conferences; Activities — empowerment (helping the needy in the community), training, counseling, deliverance, and prayer; and Relationship — fostering conversations and collaboration with other denominations and the community, door-to-door and village outreach.
With all the responsibilities I have mentioned above, I am committed to encouraging systematic, sacrificial, and faithful giving.
Persecution experienced by Christians in Nigeria
Nigeria is home to more than 229 million people from diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. There are two major religions in the country: Islam and Christianity. In many states and local communities in Nigeria, Christians are denied their fundamental rights such as the right to life, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of movement.
Political map of Nigeria with capital Abuja, national borders, most important cities, rivers and lakes. Vector illustration with English labeling and scaling.
In the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria, it is dangerous to be a Christian because of religious persecution which is increasing daily. Christians are a primary target of terrorist attacks by Islamic terrorists Boko Haram and militant herdsmen who are eager to attack the church and Christians at every opportunity. The attacks range from beatings, kidnappings, looting of property and farm produce, and destroying homes and churches, to killings including massacres of Christians during church services. Any Christian going to church on Sundays in Nigeria is at risk of losing his or her life. (The Open Doors 2024 report cites 82% of all Christians killed across the globe for faith reasons were in Nigeria.)
In the South, Christians are often marginalized and deprived of employment, promotions at work, and political positions.
And across all of Nigeria being a Christian is challenging for the younger generation, making it difficult to gain admission to tertiary institutions of their choice. They are being delayed and not allowed to pursue their dreams on time. Similarly, employment is also made difficult rendering them unemployed for a very long time.
Tragically, young people cannot attend school without fear of being abducted. Occurrences within the last decade have increased dramatically. Widely publicized incidents include the Boko Haram abduction of 276 schoolgirls from a government secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, and 110 schoolgirls kidnapped from the Dapchi Girls Secondary School in Yobe State by Boko Haram. All the girls from Dapchi were later released except Leah Sharibu who refused to renounce her Christian faith. And last year 121 students at Bethel Baptist School in Kaduna were kidnapped from their school compound.
Kaduna City has now been divided into two: the northern part for Muslims and the southern part for Christians which is very dangerous.
Many churches have been attacked in Kaduna and Plateau states leaving Christians homeless and helpless. In Katsina, churches are being looted for their musical instruments and other properties hindering them from worship. And when my husband was pastoring a church in Kaduna, our church was attacked and burnt. My husband was assaulted and left for dead but God’s mercies sent helpers to rescue him.
Bandits are destroying whole communities of Christians. A woman had to choke her child to death when they were hiding from terrorists. The woman is still traumatized. Also, a pastor witnessed the killing of his wife and children. Now, he is lonely.
In early August 2024, Nigerians staged a ten-day protest against bad governance. The economy is in shambles and violence in the North is causing havoc; it is not safe. People are dying every day because of insecurity. Today, many Christians in the North are stranded; they live in IDP camps where male and female, young and old sleep in the same space, eat whatever they could get, and worship in the same space with no hope of where to go.
There is also serious hunger in the land as a result of food insecurity. Due to violence from bandits and militant herders, many farmers can no longer farm. Those who can farm are kidnapped and have to sell their farm produce to pay ransom.
How Christians are challenging injustice and persecution in Nigeria
Local churches in Nigeria are praying, looking to God, and trusting Him to send help. They are shouting but no one is listening. The local churches have no voice and are helpless.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was formed in the mid-1970s by several Christian denominations to advocate for Christians to live out their faith and to promote peace. CAN helps communicate the plight of the local churches to the government, but there has not been a substantial outcome.
Christians outside Nigeria can stand and shout against the religious persecution that Christians are facing in our country. We need you to be our voice; speak out against the killing, kidnapping, and intimidation of Christians. Speak for us; defend and help us to secure religious freedom. Be our advocate at the UN and speak to our government.
How you can pray for us
Rebuild and renovate churches — The church in Nigeria needs help rebuilding churches and renovating the ones that are looted.
Supplies of food, money, and medicines — Hunger is in the land, people are suffering because there is no money to get food, drugs, and basic life amenities.
Counseling centers — Counseling centers are needed with professional counselors who will help with trauma healing and restoration.
Empowering Christians — Many Christians must be equipped for livelihood.
Stand firm in Christ — There is a need for intense and prevailing prayers for Christians in Nigeria to overcome the persecution they face and to stand firm in Christ. Pray for unbelievers to receive the light of Christ.