ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Christian communities across Nigeria are under siege, with thousands killed, churches burned, and families forced from their homes in a wave of violence that rights advocates say has reached crisis levels. The bloodshed is drawing international concern and intensifying calls for accountability.
Between January and August 2025, over 7,000 Christians were reported killed and nearly 8,000 abducted in attacks concentrated in states such as Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Taraba. Survivors describe brutal assaults—villages razed, worshippers shot mid-service, and entire communities driven into displacement camps.
In one of the most devastating incidents this year, gunmen attacked Yelwata village in Benue State, killing more than 100 people. Similar raids have taken place in southern Kaduna and the central Plateau region, where attackers have targeted both religious sites and farming communities.
“The government has failed us,” said a church leader in Kaduna. “We bury our people almost every week, yet no one is punished.”
President Bola Tinubu has publicly condemned the violence and promised stronger security responses. However, critics say those responses have been slow and inconsistent. The federal government has maintained that the conflict is driven by land and resource disputes, not religious animosity—a claim rejected by many advocacy groups and local leaders.
U.S. Government Response
The crisis has sparked strong reactions from the United States. In March, Nigerian clerics testified before Congress, accusing armed groups of systematically targeting Christian communities. U.S. lawmakers have since introduced legislation urging the State Department to relist Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom violations.
In addition to legislative pressure, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria issued a public statement condemning efforts to silence witnesses or intimidate clergy who speak out. The Nigerian government, however, strongly rejected what it called a mischaracterization of its domestic issues, defending its security policies and warning against foreign interference.
European Union and Vatican Response
The European Union has also weighed in. Church leaders across Europe have urged the EU to take a more active role in pressuring Nigerian authorities to ensure justice for victims and prevent further violence. In recent months, members of the European Parliament have called on the European Commission to investigate reports of religiously motivated violence in Nigeria and to take diplomatic action.
Pope Leo XIV, during a public prayer in June, expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life in Nigeria and called for peace, justice, and protection of religious communities. Vatican officials later reiterated the Pope’s message, calling the persecution of Christians in Nigeria a moral emergency that requires both spiritual solidarity and concrete action.
Broader Context and Concerns
The violence has devastated rural economies, displaced tens of thousands of families, and widened religious and ethnic fault lines across the country. Many victims are still waiting for justice, and countless others live in fear of the next attack.
Human rights groups argue that the international community has not done enough to pressure Nigeria into meaningful reform. Meanwhile, Nigerian officials warn that reducing the crisis to religious terms ignores complex drivers, including climate change, poverty, criminality, and institutional weaknesses.
Still, for families mourning the dead and communities rebuilding after attacks, the issue is deeply personal.
“We want peace, not revenge,” said one survivor who lost her husband and two sons in an attack. “But how can there be peace without justice?”
As the death toll climbs, the question remains: will Nigeria and the world act before more lives are lost?
