Nigeria (MNN) — Persecution of Christians in Nigeria has been on the rise for more than fourteen years. The lack of accountability from the international community hasn’t helped, but it’s a trend that does not have to continue.
“When you have the frequency and the amount of stories coming out of Nigeria, people become numb to it. But these are our brothers and sisters in Christ,” says Greg Musselman with Voice of the Martyrs Canada.
(Map courtesy Voice of the Martyrs Canada)
“We have to keep sharp in terms of not losing that passion and continue to pray for what’s going on in Nigeria, because it’s a genocide and it’s an atrocity that’s taking place in that country.”
According to a July report from International Christian Concern (ICC), more than 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, the year the Boko Haram insurgency began. (Read the comprehensive ICC report online here.)
So why has the United States largely been silent on the religious freedom violations and slaughter of Christians that Nigeria’s government tolerates? The State Department’s 2023 list of Countries of Particular Concern ignored Nigeria entirely.
“There’s no way that Nigeria should be off that list,” Musselman says. “But politics often get in the way, and that’s very troubling for those that are working in Nigeria.”
National leaders may be ignoring Nigeria right now, but God sees everything happening there and He cares deeply. Would you commit to praying regularly for your fellow Christians in Nigeria? Ask God to dramatically reverse the direction their nation is going in and make the gospel of Jesus multiply despite intense opposition.
“[Pray] that the Christians in Nigeria don’t become demoralized. We need to pray for God’s protection on them, and then also for organizations that are working in the country,” Musselman says.
Learn more about Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s ministry among Nigerian believers here.
Header image shows the aftermath of an attack in Nigeria against Christians. Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Canada on Facebook.