The recent election period highlights the long term risk to the Christian community in Nigeria
The recent election period highlights the long term risk to the Christian community in Nigeria. The large number of Christians in Nigeria makes their votes a powerful political force. At election time, Christians are attacked ahead of the polls and also afterwards, if the outcome is not considered to be favourable.
The recent election period highlights the long term risk to the Christian community in Nigeria. The large number of Christians in Nigeria makes their votes a powerful political force. At election time, Christians are attacked ahead of the polls and also afterwards, if the outcome is not considered to be favourable.
One church leader, Ibrahim Bakwe, told Open Doors, “Every time elections approach, there is so much fear of the unknown among Christians, because they have been targeted so often.”
In recent weeks, Boko Haram have intensified attacks in the north. Armed groups have killed more than 100 soldiers and seized a huge stock of weapons in clashes in northeast Nigeria. This is according to a report released by the Global Protection Cluster in Chad, a group of aid agencies led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The IS West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction of Boko Haram has forced thousands of people to flee to safer areas in Nigeria and over the border to neighbouring Chad. The government has denied the number of soldiers killed.
According to Reuters, Boko Haram has killed about 30,000 people and forced about two million people to flee their homes since the insurgency began in 2009.
A long term crisis continues for the Christians who have been forced to flee their homes and now live dependent on aid from Open Doors. The government offers no aid to these Christians who are living in temporary camps.
Open Doors provides emergency relief such as vital food, clothing and blankets to Christians who’ve left their homes because of the violence.
