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Nigeria

• Numerous Christians Killed in Benue State

  

  During two separate attacks on November 24th and December 1st, Fulani herdsmen killed 48 Christians in the Nigerian state of Benue, which is considered the north-central part of the country. These attacks are just two recent examples of the horrific dangers believers must deal with in this West African nation.

• Abducted Christians Escape Captivity

  

  On March 1st, 2018, Islamic militants attacked a displacement camp in Borno state. As a result of the attack, three UNICEF workers were killed, along with eight soldiers. During the attack, a Christian woman named Alice Loksha Ngaddah, who worked as a nurse in the camp, was taken captive – along with two Muslim midwives, Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman. Having been declared "apostates" by their captors merely for working with the Red Cross, the two midwives were killed a few months later.

• Worshippers Slain in Church Attacks; Others Kidnapped

  

  The village of Bakinpah-Maro in Kaduna State, Nigeria, has been experiencing repeated attacks from Islamic militants. In order to provide greater protection to residents of the community, village leaders recently raised funds to build a security post that would help draw more law enforcement personnel to the area. However, on the morning of Sunday, September 15th, the village was again attacked by militants – believed to be Fulani herdsmen – who specifically targeted two churches in the community.

• Church Building Burned Down

  

  During the early morning hours of August 10th, the building of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Kontagora was burned to the ground. Residents in the area reported that they witnessed a group of men loot the church building before setting it on fire. This is the second time that the church facility has been destroyed and, on both occasions, militant Muslim activists are believed to have been responsible.

• Ongoing Violence Leads to Church Closures

  

  Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. One estimate states that, on average, every two hours there is a Christian in Nigeria who dies. The ongoing brutality comes from numerous directions, and news reports only reflect a small portion of the violent incidents that take place – whether they involve fatalities, abductions or the destruction of properties. In many cases, multiple atrocities take place during a terrorist attack.

• Christians Slain After Being Forced from Bus

  

  On June 5th, a bus was travelling along the Damaturu-Biu Highway when a group of armed men forced it to stop near the village of Kamuya, which is located on the border between the states of Yobe and Borno. The terrorists, believed to be members of Boko Haram, pulled aside four passengers who were Christians and then allowed the rest of the travellers to leave.

• Deadly Market Attack

  

  As Nigerians were celebrating their national Democracy Day on May 29th, gunmen opened fire on the Maro Junction Market which happens to be located within a predominantly Christian community of Kaduna State. Reports state that as many as 12 people were killed and 20 others injured.

• Hundreds Rescued from Boko Haram Captivity

  

  On May 20th, the Nigerian military reported that 350 captives had been recovered from Boko Haram bases in the Sambisa Forest, a well-known enclave for the militant group in eastern Nigeria. Some of the captors were killed during the military operation. All of the rescued former hostages were taken to the Borno state government house where they will be cared for until they can safely return to their homes.

• Violence Continues Unabated

  

  In areas throughout Nigeria, violence has continued relentlessly, disproportionately affecting the Christian population. Those responsible for the brutality are generally members of Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram or the nomadic Fulani herdsmen. While attacks perpetrated by the herdsmen often stem from conflicts over their free-ranging cattle, the accompanying violence also commonly involves a religious element, as militant members of the predominantly Muslim group specifically target Christians and churches. Within the past month, multiple attacks have occurred in at least four different Nigerian states. (For previously published reports on the suffering of Nigeria's Christians, go to our country report.)

• Chibok Victim Recovered Ten Years After Kidnapping Attack

  

  The Nigerian army announced on April 18th that one of the schoolgirls who had been abducted from the town of Chibok more than a decade ago has been safely rescued. The statement issued by the military provided a photo of Lydia Simon, who is five months pregnant, along with the three children whom she gave birth to while in captivity. No further details were given surrounding Lydia's rescue, other than the fact that she was found in the community of Ngoshe. At last report, the young woman was yet to be reunited with her family.