NIGERIA: Surge in Attacks on Christians

29 April 2025

Source: International Christian Concern

According to International Christian Concern (ICC), there has been a dramatic rise in attacks against Christian communities in Nigeria. In just over three months, more than 300 Christians have been killed, dozens abducted, and thousands displaced in a wave of organised violence that has swept across Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Ebonyi states.

One of the most devastating attacks occurred on Palm Sunday, 13 April, in Zike village, Plateau state, where at least 56 people, including 15 children, were killed and 103 homes were burned. Days earlier, militants launched simultaneous attacks on 15 villages in Bokkos LGA, leaving 56 dead, and 28 injured, and displacing more than 5,000 people. Another 72 people were killed in an attack that occurred around 18 April in Ukum and Logo LGAs, Benue state.

Other notable incidents in 2025 include:

· Clergy abductions and killings in Edo, Kaduna, and Plateau states.

· More than 230 homes burned or destroyed.

· At least ten churches were damaged or razed — many during Sunday services or overnight attacks.

· At least 15 farms were destroyed or seized, threatening food security and livelihoods for displaced. Christian families.

The perpetrators are often identified as Islamic Fulani militants operating with impunity. ICC field partners report that many attacks are premeditated, targeting Christians during worship or in their homes at night.

Despite two decades of ongoing persecution, 2025 marks one of the most violent years in recent memory. Nigerian authorities have yet to deliver adequate protection or justice, and many survivors report being left without shelter, security, or basic support.

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