Christian persecution in Nigeria: the national crisis of the near-daily persecution of Christians has grown in the face of continued inaction from the Nigerian government and law enforcement apparatus. Muslim Fulani herdsmen, as well as the terrorist group Boko Haram and its offshoot the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), terrorize and kill Christians in Nigeria with impunity. And when they do, there is in almost all cases little or no significant response from the Nigerian government or military. The Fulani herdsmen have made the situation of Christians in Nigeria a human rights catastrophe of immense proportions.
The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, continues to implore the United Nations and the governments of all nations that are committed to human rights and religious freedom to make the plight of Nigeria’s Christians a top priority. The Christians of Nigeria are walking the way of the Cross. May our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ also bless them with the joy of a resurrection and new flourishing of their communities.
For previous coverage of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria from ChristianPersecution.com, see here.
“Islamist Militants Kill, Kidnap Christians in Northeast Nigeria,” Morning Star News, November 4, 2020:
JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Islamic extremist militants in northeast Nigeria attacked a predominantly Christian village near Chibok, Borno state on Sunday morning (Nov. 1), killing 12 Christians and kidnapping women and children, sources said.
In Takulashi, less than 10 miles from Chibok, where Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped 276 Christian girls in 2014, the assailants arrived with automatic weapons on six gun-trucks and three heavy-duty vehicles and shot anyone in sight, said area resident Ishaku Musa.
“They also burned down houses and looted food items from our houses,” Musa told Morning Star News by text message. “At the end of the shootings and looting, which lasted about two hours, 12 of our people in the community were killed, three women were kidnapped and also four children were abducted by the Boko Haram attackers.”
A church pastor was among those killed. Villagers suspected the assailants were militants of Boko Haram, which seeks to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout Nigeria, as the group is known for attacking villages and Christian communities, whereas a Boko Haram break-away group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), usually attacks military installations.
The terrorists invaded the village at about 9 a.m., when church services were taking place, Musa said….
Nigeria ranked 12th on Open Doors’ 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution but second in the number of Christians killed for their faith, behind Pakistan.
