Tags

For more than 1,400 years, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has coexisted with Muslim communities in a unique truce with only occasional tension between them. (This long-standing relationship traces back to the year 615, when the King of Aksum granted asylum to a group of early Muslims.) Any subsequent religious opposition in Ethiopia has primarily been between adherents of one of these two religions and those belonging to other groups, including evangelical Christians. In recent months, however, there has been a troubling shift. Militant Islamic groups have reportedly begun targeting Orthodox Christian communities, particularly in areas of the country that are now primarily Muslim.

Three Christians were killed and 15 others kidnapped when gunmen raided a night prayer vigil on May 23rd. At least 10 attackers invaded the gathering in the community of Ori-Oke Ajaiye, located on the outskirts of Ikiran in Nigeria's western state of Kwara. The violent assault sparked widespread terror throughout the region, causing villagers to flee for safety.

Easter Sunday worship services in the town of Ariko, Kaduna State, were violently disrupted when gunmen attacked two churches, killing 12 Christians. According to witnesses, Fulani rebels opened fire on followers of Jesus who had been worshipping at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and the St. Augustine Catholic Church. In addition to the fatalities, dozens of others were kidnapped and both church buildings sustained damages.

In a tribal region of Odisha State, three members of a Christian family were recently killed by close relatives, leaving three children orphaned and now in hiding. The incident took place in the village of Nialijharan on January 25th, claiming the lives of Jitendra Soren and his wife Malati, along with their 15-year-old daughter Sasmita.

On the night of December 24th, Christians gathered for worship at a church in Mailo village, a community located in the Dosso region of Niger. At around 11 p.m., armed men stormed the church building and fired into the air, causing the worshippers to panic. As a result, all who had been attending the service fled – some escaping into the bush, while others sought refuge in neighbouring villages. Tragically, a husband and wife who hid in their home were pursued and killed by the assailants.

Unlike some nations where persecution is government-instigated, believers in Nigeria – particularly those in northern parts of the country – are at greatest risk of life-threatening attacks perpetrated by their fellow Nigerians. In previous years, Islamic militant groups (such as Boko Haram) carried out their violent raids against Christian villages with impunity. In addition to slaying many innocent inhabitants, buildings and properties within these communities were destroyed. While other terrorist groups remain a major active threat to Christians residing in Nigeria, most of the attacks reported during 2025 were carried out by militant Fulani herdsmen.

On Sunday, December 7th, armed assailants entered the St. Andrews Anglican Church in Isiokwe, Anambra State, while the priest and other congregants were preparing for morning worship. The gunmen were said to be searching for the church's priest, who was thankfully able to escape to safety. However, the priest's wife and another church member were tragically shot and killed, while several other worshippers were wounded during the indiscriminate shooting.

Important Update: A recently released report has provided further information regarding the death of Pastor Kamran Salamat. Authorities have since filed charges against the church leader's wife, Salmina, along with a Muslim man named Najam Ul Saqib, for apparently conspiring together to kill Pastor Kamran. Najam has also been accused of hiring contract killers to carry out the assassination. While the motives behind this tragic incident appear to have changed, one fact remains: a devoted servant of God has been killed, and all those who knew and loved him continue to need prayer.

Pastor Kamran Salamat was widely respected for his ministry work and commitment to promoting interfaith peace. He served as pastor of a church in Islamabad, where he ministered faithfully and advocated for the rights of Christians in Pakistan. As a result of his ministry activities, Pastor Kamran was violently attacked in September and shot in the leg, leaving him seriously injured.

Violence against Christians in Nigeria continues to spread, even as international attention to the crisis grows. Recently, the United States designated Nigeria as a "a county of particular concern" due to the ongoing religious persecution, threatening military intervention if the situation does not change. In response to the recent global attention, the Nigerian government insists that its laws safeguard religious freedom and that efforts are underway to protect citizens of all faiths.

On the evening of September 24th, Asif Raza was returning home from work in the Vehari district of Punjab when he was suddenly ambushed by a group of seven assailants. The men brutally assaulted Asif, deliberately targeting his head while striking him repeatedly with bricks.