Christian Persecution In Nigeria

by Alexei Laushkin

For many in the American church, the idea of martyrdom and severe persecution feels distant, a page from a history book or a headline from a faraway land that we struggle to fully comprehend. We have our own struggles with politics and polarization, with the challenge of what it means to love our neighbor and our enemy in a society that seems to be pulling itself apart.

Since the start of the year worsening Christian Persecution is taking hold in Nigeria. In a land rich with faith, a devastating pattern of violence against Christian communities continues to unfold with horrific frequency. The past year of 2025 has not been a year of reprieve, but one of continued, and in some cases, escalating persecution.

Have We Grown Numb to the Suffering?

Have we, in our comfort, become so numb to these reports that we fail to see the very real, very human cost of this violence?

Consider the recent reports from human rights organizations like International Christian Concern (ICC) and Open Doors. In a series of devastating attacks in states like Plateau and Benue, militants have targeted Christian villages, leading to mass killings, the displacement of thousands, and the destruction of livelihoods. The bodies of 27 Christians, including women and children, were laid to rest in July in a mass burial in Bindi village, a scene that has become tragically commonplace. Just days earlier, another 32 people were killed in a similar attack in Jebu.

These are not isolated incidents born of simple land disputes. As Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has stated, this is a state under siege by “terrorists,” and local leaders are increasingly calling it what it is: a calculated campaign of ethnic cleansing and religiously motivated violence. Militants, often identified as Fulani militias, attack with machetes and guns, shouting “Allahu Akbar,” as they burn homes and churches. The silence from many authorities and the lack of a robust security response have created an environment of impunity, where the perpetrators act without fear of justice.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has continued to call for the State Department to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Reports for 2025 have highlighted how both non-state actors like Boko Haram and Fulani militias, as well as discriminatory government policies, continue to threaten the religious freedom of Christians. We’ve seen a Nigerian High Court overturn a wrongful conviction of a Christian man, “David,” who was imprisoned simply for helping two women escape violence after they converted to Christianity.

In moments of such profound suffering, what is the responsibility of the global body of Christ? The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that we are all part of one body:

“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

— 1 Corinthians 12:26

This passage is a call to a unity that transcends borders, denominations, and political affiliations. When our brothers and sisters in Nigeria are slaughtered, displaced, and forced into a life of fear, we cannot simply look away. Their suffering is our suffering. Their fear should become our fear. The love we are called to have for our neighbor must be a sincere love, a sincere love that moves us beyond pity and into action.

A Call to Sincere Love and Action

So what are we, as Christians and as a ministry of unity, to do?

First, we are called to pray. This is not a passive act but a powerful, spiritual weapon. As a ministry, we are urging our community to join us in praying for:

The peace and security of Christian communities in Plateau, Benue, and other states in Nigeria.
The immediate end to the violence and the protection of the innocent—the women, children, and elderly caught in the crossfire.
For the Nigerian government to act decisively and with integrity to protect all its citizens, regardless of their faith.
For the perpetrators of this violence—that their hearts would be turned from hatred and that they would cease their terror.
For the aid workers and missionaries providing for those who have lost everything, that the Lord would protect them and provide them with the resources they need.
For the global church to be a courageous and vocal witness, speaking out on behalf of our persecuted family.
For a deeper love for Christ in the American church that compels us to move beyond our own internal conflicts and into solidarity with those who suffer.

Second, we must seek to be a source of truthful information. We must allow the voices of the persecuted to inform our perspective.

Third, we must respond with a generous and charitable heart. Many organizations are providing direct aid and support.

This is not a time for silence. It is not a time for easy answers or for a faith of unrealistic expectations. It is a time for the hard work of love in the face of profound suffering. It is a time for us to remember that our faith is not a mere set of beliefs, but a life lived in solidarity with the body of Christ, especially its most vulnerable parts.

The only real enemy we have is the kind that would allow our hearts to grow cold and indifferent to the suffering of others, drawing us away from the core of the Gospel. Let us pray that we, as a church, are not found wanting in this critical hour.