Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa, faces a harsh reality for its Christian population. Since the early 2000s, over 62,000 Christians have lost their lives to violence driven by extremist groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militias.
Most attacks are centred in the northern and central states, with recent years seeing a sharp rise in killings, kidnappings, and forced migrations. In 2024, 3,100 Christians were killed and 2,830 kidnapped, ranking Nigeria as the deadliest country for Christians, according to the 2025 World Watch List by Open Doors.
The violence shows no sign of stopping. On Christmas Eve 2023, coordinated attacks in Plateau State left around 200 Christians dead. Villages were destroyed, homes and churches burned, and families separated. Bishop Wilfred Anagbe from the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi described the attackers, especially Fulani militias, as acting “with total impunity” and committing acts like murder and kidnapping without fear of justice.
Other countries in Central Africa are facing similar troubles. In the Central African Republic (CAR) and Cameroon, Christians are targeted by armed factions, including Boko Haram and local militias. In Cameroon, the Anglophone crisis has made things worse, putting Christian communities at greater risk as violence spreads between separatist groups and government forces. While Nigeria remains the centre of this crisis, the spread of radical ideologies across the Sahel and Central Africa continues to threaten Christians with forced conversions, abductions, and church burnings.
Deep-Rooted History
Christian persecution in Nigeria has roots in the country’s complex social and political story. Formed by British colonial rule in 1914, Nigeria is split by religion and ethnicity. The mainly Muslim north contrasts with the Christian-majority south. Tensions stretch back to at least 1953, with incidents in Tafawa Balewa as early as 1948. Violence increased in the 1980s after the death of preacher Mohammed Marwa and Nigeria’s joining the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which angered many Christians.
Boko Haram’s rise in 2009 changed the situation. The group, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” started a campaign for an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, targeting both Christians and moderate Muslims. Alongside ISWAP and Fulani groups, they have killed thousands. The Fulani, once known mainly as nomadic herders, have become more involved in violent land disputes with Christian farmers in the Middle Belt. While some say these are resource conflicts, many now recognize the religious motives behind the violence.
In Central Africa, Christian persecution is linked to ongoing instability. In the CAR, the 2013 civil war between the Muslim Séléka and Christian and animist Anti-Balaka militias led to a cycle of violence that continues today. Although both sides have committed crimes, Christian villages have faced more attacks in recent years, with churches destroyed and clergy murdered. In Cameroon, old colonial divisions between the French and British areas have contributed to ethnic and religious strife, putting Christians in the Anglophone regions at risk from both separatists and government forces.
Widespread Human Rights Abuses
The scale of abuse against Christians in Nigeria and Central Africa is overwhelming. Attacks include massacres, abductions, sexual violence, and forced displacement. Over 16 million Christians in sub-Saharan Africa, many from Nigeria, have been driven from their homes, ending up in crowded camps with little access to essentials. Women and girls suffer most, often abducted and forced into sexual slavery. Survivors like Maryamu Joseph, kidnapped by Boko Haram at age seven, have shared stories of forced conversions and years spent in captivity.
Clergy are regular targets. In 2022, four Catholic priests were killed in Nigeria, and 23 priests plus a seminarian were kidnapped, according to Aid to the Church in Need. The murder of Father Isaac Achi, burned alive in his home in 2023, and the killing of seminarian Na’aman Danlami show the danger religious leaders face. In the CAR, attacks on churches continue, like the 2020 Protestant church massacre that left 24 dead and others kidnapped.
The Nigerian government’s response often comes under fire for being weak or, at times, complicit. While the constitution guarantees religious freedom, 12 northern states enforce Sharia law, fuelling discrimination against Christians. Security forces rarely prosecute offenders, leading to more attacks. Emeka Umeagbalasi of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has accused Nigerian police and the military of failing to protect Christian communities. In the CAR, poor governance and ongoing conflict leave Christians exposed, with peacekeeping missions struggling to control the violence.
International efforts have also fallen short. The U.S. State Department removed Nigeria from its “Country of Particular Concern” list in 2021, despite calls from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to keep the designation. Bishop Anagbe and others have called for tougher action, such as sanctions and a U.N. investigation to document the abuses.
The Need for Action in Nigeria and Central Africa
Christian persecution in Nigeria and Central Africa is a global human rights emergency. The term “silent genocide” is often used to describe the relentless and organized attacks. Despite tens of thousands killed since 2009, the international response remains muted.
Groups like Open Doors and Genocide Watch continue to push for urgent action. Suggestions include creating a special Nigerian security force trained by international experts, setting up early-warning networks, and putting Nigeria back on the CPC list. In Central Africa, improving conditions means tackling issues like poverty, poor governance, and extremist influence.
In spite of the suffering, Christian communities remain strong. In Nigeria, local churches provide trauma support, aid, and help survivors rebuild. The Catholic Church in the CAR cares for over 600,000 displaced people. Still, without real international help, the violence will likely continue.
Bishop Anagbe has warned, “If we keep quiet, we are going to go extinct.” The ongoing attacks on Christians in Nigeria and Central Africa need immediate global attention. Words of sympathy are not enough. The world must act, with sanctions, investigations, and direct help for those forced from their homes. The future of Christian communities in these regions is at risk as the world faces a clear choice: to act against this hidden crisis or let it go on.
