Population
222,182,000
Religion
Christianity and Islam
Christians
102,988,000, 46.4%
Prayer points
Politics
State of Religious Freedom
Nigeria is on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom list of countries of particular concern. In its 2024 report it states: “In 2023, religious freedom conditions in Nigeria remained extremely poor. Violence across Nigeria impacted freedom of religion or belief as the government failed to prevent attacks against faith-based organizations or worshipers, with some accusing it of fomenting such attacks. Nigerian government officials were often slow to react to information about possible attacks or to respond after attacks occurred. In some cases, those impacted by violence directly criticized a lack of government accountability and called for further steps to protect religious freedom. Both the police and army drew criticism for not stemming the activities of violent insurgent groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), and Fulani gangs that often worked in collaboration with them. Those states where violence was most prevalent include Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Adamawa, and Benue.
Additionally, multiple attacks during the year targeted religious leaders.
Examples:
- in January 2023, bandits killed Father Isaac Achi of the Minna Diocese, while others shot and injured assistant parish priest Father Collins Omeh at the Saints Peter and Paul Church in the Paikoro region.
- in May 2023, insurgents in Benue State killed pastor Dominic Dajo of St. Peter Catholic Church and his wife.
- In Nasarawa State, Fulani herders killed pastor Daniel Danbeki of the Evangelical Church Winning All, along with his wife and 41 others.
- In Yobe State, Boko Haram insurgents killed at least 37 people in February 2023 and killed another 40 people in October.
- In May, the Nigerian army rescued two women Boko Haram had kidnapped in 2014 from a Chibok secondary school.
- In November, Boko Haram killed 15 farmers in the Muslim-majority Borno State and at least 10 Christians in Taraba State.
- In 2023, the government detained individuals accused of blasphemy and often failed to hold accountable perpetrators of violence related to blasphemy allegations. The Nigerian penal code includes a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment for acts “persons consider as a public insult on their religion, with the intention that they should consider the act such an insult.”
Twelve states in northern Nigeria have implemented Shari’a legal frameworks since 1999.
- In May, a Sokoto State magistrate released two suspects arrested for the May 2022 mob murder of Christian Deborah Samuel for alleged blasphemy, eliminating any accountability for her death.
- In June, a mob in Sokoto State stoned to death Usman Buda after he made a remark misunderstood as a slur against the Prophet Muhammad. At least five prisoners remain in state custody on blasphemy charges, including humanist Mubarak Bala and Sufi Muslim Yahaya Sharif–Aminu.
At a November 27 hearing in a Bauchi State high court, a judge rejected Christian Rhoda Jatau’s appeal that the court dismiss the blasphemy charges against her; however, on December 10, a Bauchi court judge released her on bail
Politics
Having gained independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria’s democratic transition did not occur until 1999, when 16 years of military rule ended. Buhari, from All Progressives Congress (APC) became president in 2015 and was controversially re-elected in February 2019, amid electoral violence and arbitrary rules made by the Electoral Commission in support of President Buhari.
Nigeria has the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa. However, poverty is widespread and 40% of the population live below the poverty line. Northern Nigeria is severely under-developed compared to the south. Corruption is rampant and a point of contention is the distribution of revenues received from oil.
18% of girls are married before their 15th birthday. The Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015 is Nigeria’s first criminal legislation that recognizes a broad spectrum of violence particularly against women and girls but is yet to be adopted by several Sharia-run northern states. (PWAN 2022). Domestic violence within marriages is widespread; in the Islamic northern region, husbands are permitted to discipline their wives so long as no ‘grievous’ bodily harm is caused (CEDAW 2017).
Human rights violations are carried out by numerous groups. In the north, Boko Haram has carried out a systematic campaign against the Nigerian state, proclaiming an Islamic caliphate in Borno State in 2014. Boko Haram specifically targets Christians, abducting and killing males and abducting, raping and forcibly marrying females as part of the mission to depopulate Christian-dominated territories. Boko Haram leader Shekau died in May 2021 but that has not diminished any activities. Similar violence is carried out by ISWAP, who also pledge allegiance to Islamic State. Fulani militants attack predominantly Christian villages in several northern states, abducting, raping and killing people, destroying buildings and harvests or occupying farmlands. The violence has rapidly expanded further south. Armed criminal groups are also responsible for violence in northern states where they rape, kill, kidnap and burn property. Nigeria is ranked 3rd on the list of countries most affected by terrorism (Global Terrorism Index 2020).
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has called for a formal inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity, in which she implicated not only non-state actors but also members of the Nigerian Security Forces (NSF).
Of Christian Martyrdoms
are happening in Sub-Saharan Africa
Add your voice.
break the silence.
Out of every 10 Christians murdered for their faith across the world, nine are killed in Sub-Saharan Africa. Murder, torture and kidnapping are an everyday threat. Extremists want to destroy the church and are using unthinkable violence. The very survival of the church is at risk – unless we act.