Nigeria

How are Christians persecuted in Nigeria?

• Nigeria continues to be the most violent place to live in for believers and much of this comes from Islamist militant groups, such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). They target Christians and church buildings through intense attacks and converts from Islam are especially mistreated.
• In northern Nigeria, 12 states have implemented Sharia (Islamic law) which creates a system where Christians are treated as second-class citizens.
• Communities fall victim to Fulani militants who hide out in forested areas and launch attacks on schools and churches, kidnapping believers and holding them for ransom. Others are killed and entire communities thrown into deep fear and uncertainty.

• Tese Matthew* was displaced by the violence of extremists and details one instance where militants attacked a community: “Some people… selected to sleep in the stores in the market. So, the extremists burnt down the stores with people inside, together with the goods.”
• Christian women face horrific abuse if they are discovered, notably from extremist groups. They are often kidnapped, raped or forced into sexual slavery or marriage. Some are even killed, and even in internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps, they are vulnerable to sexual abuse.
• Rifkatu* is only one sister amongst many who have suffered kidnapping and rape by Islamist extremists. She remembers the moment she was abducted, saying, “The one that carried me on his motorbike, he asked why I was crying. I told him I am married, but he said, ‘If your husband was strong, he would have rescued you from our hands.’”

Why are Christians persecuted in Nigeria?

• Nigeria is populated by extremist groups and Fulani militants who attack vulnerable communities and kidnap large groups of people for financial, territorial or political gain.
• The nation’s security is highly weakened by their activity and that of extremist militants. Christians are vulnerable to both the violence which these groups enact and hostility from surrounding communities.
• Because of the incessant violence, many Christians have been displaced, either by force or for fear of the next attack. Imma*, a Christian in Nigeria, recounts, “They killed many of our people, including many of my husband’s family. Because of the chaos, we were just running helter-skelter.”

Who is particularly vulnerable in Nigeria?

• Believers who live in the northern part of Nigeria face the most extreme persecution because of the oppressive presence of Islamist militants, though this violence has spread further south in recent years.
• Converts from Islam are especially mistreated for turning to follow Jesus. Anyone who is suspected of blasphemy or insulting the Prophet Muhammad can face intense violence from mobs or ejection from their community – above all, those living in areas where Islamic law governs daily life.

What has changed in Nigeria in the past year?

• 2025 has seen many acts of violence against believers in Nigeria. The country remains at number seven, with a slight increase in persecution score.
• Hundreds of brothers and sisters have been killed, kidnapped and displaced in the past year, largely because of Fulani militants and other extremist groups who target Christian communities.

How can I help Christians in Nigeria? 

• Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria. Your prayers are invaluable in helping believers stand firm amidst persecution.
• You can sign the Arise Africa petition, answering the call of the African church and calling for protection, justice and restoration for Christians and other vulnerable people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Open Doors partners in Nigeria provide both immediate and long-term care. This includes trauma counselling, emergency aid, discipleship training, socio-economic support and persecution survival training.

*Names changed for security reasons