Nigerian Christians need your help after deadly attacks

More than 200 Christians were killed and thousands displaced after attacks by radical Islamist militants in Benue State, Nigeria. Now they need your help for survival.

When violence erupted in Benue State, Nigeria, more than 200 people were murdered. Radical Islamist militants attacked Christians in June in a wave of brutal assaults. For those mourning and fearful, the ordeal was only just beginning.

Now, months later, many thousands have lost their homes and are displaced. They face life-threatening scarcity of food, medicine and shelter. They urgently need your help.

“They killed many of our people”

“They invaded our village at night, around 10pm,” says Imma*, one of the survivors. “They killed many of our people, including many of my husband’s family.”

“After the attack, they burned down buildings, including stores where mothers and children were sleeping,” adds Simon*, another survivor from Benue.

The community were warned of the attacks, but they couldn’t escape. The militants burned down the food stores where some of the villagers were sleeping, because their homes had been destroyed in previous attacks.

Not enough food

Believers are living in temporary, makeshift accommodation in an international market. They have lost everything.

“The situation is really not good – people are still hungry.”

Virtue, Open Doors

“Because all of our food supplies have been burned, we don’t have any food to eat,” says Imma. “Since we arrived here, not all of us found a place to sleep. And there’s not enough food. I pray that God empowers fellow believers to help us.”

“The situation is really not good – people are still hungry,” says Virtue*, a local Open Doors partner supporting Christians displaced by these assaults. “When you interview anybody, they tell you their main problem is hunger.”

Equipping Open Doors partners

Support for Open Doors’ ongoing Arise Africa campaign means our local partners have been able to help a few hundred believers already. But the scale of the emergency is huge, and more funding is needed, fast.

Open Doors partners have identified 9,000 people who have lost everything and are in critical need of assistance.

Simon puts it plainly: “To anyone who can help us, please support us who are displaced by extremists.”

And do keep praying for our Nigerian brothers and sisters. Your prayers are crucial as they combat the terrible aftermath of these vicious attacks.