Northern Nigeria hosts a substantial Christian population in the area where Islam meets Christianity. With an estimated thirty million adherents in the Northern region, it is the largest minority in a mainly Muslim environment.
This environment has become ever more hostile in recent decades, leading to growing marginalization and discrimination, as well as widespread attacks on Christians, especially in the last fifteen years.
In a research report by Open Doors International, named ‘Crushed but not defeated, the impact of persistent violence on the Church in Northern Nigeria listed the effects of violence on Christian communities, church activities and individual Christians.
According to this report , the killing of Christians in Nigeria has surged by 62 percent in just one year.
Statistics show that murders totaled 2,484 while there were 108 church attacks. An estimated 30 million Christians in northern Nigeria form the largest minority in a mainly Muslim environment.
“This report shows the extent and impact of the persistent violence on the church in northern Nigeria is much more serious than previously expected. Once Boko Haram is defeated, the problem will not be solved,”
Amid all this, Muslims are still converting to Christianity in this part of Nigeria.
Earlier last week, Police in Nigeria arrested four members of a gang who allegedly confessed to brutally murdering a pastor they were holding hostage because he preached to them and told them to repent of their sins.
“The gang also confessed to have been responsible for the kidnapping of famous Pastor, Chukwu Ekere of same Ohigha community and killed him for the simple reason that the man of God disturbed them with his preaching of repentance and also for urging them to shun their nefarious activities and accept God,” said authorities in a statement to PM News Nigeria.
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aaron@ugchristiannews.com – (Photo: Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde) – Women and children rescued from Boko Haram ariving at the IDC camp in Yola, Adamawa State in this undated photo.
