Tags

Nigeria

  • Captives Confirm Leah Sharibu is Alive
    Captives of Boko Haram
    Image taken from the video of
    Boko Haram captives.

    A video was recently released by the Islamic State West Africa Province, commonly known as Boko Haram. In the video, eleven abducted Christian men are shown. The spokesperson of their group is a local college lecturer, Bitrus Bwala, who was kidnapped on November 27th.

  • Release of Captured Students and Staff
    Four of the kidnapping victims from Engravers' College. - Photo: Church in Chains www.churchinchains.ie/
    Four of the kidnapping victims
    from The Engravers' College.
    Photo: Church in Chains

    The six students and two staff members of a Christian-run school in Kaduna state who were kidnapped on October 3rd have thankfully been released on October 26th. To review a previously posted report providing more information on the original incident, read this page.

  • Kidnapping in a Christian High School
    The Engravers' College
    The Engravers' College sign

    Gunmen abducted six girls and two staff members from a Christian-run boarding school on October 3rd. They forced their way into The Engravers' College in the village of Kakau Daji, Kaduna State in the early morning. According to witnesses, the attackers were Fulani herdsmen, a group responsible for considerable violence in recent years.

  • Two Aid Workers Executed
    Godfrey Ali Shikagham and Lawrence Duna Dacighir - Photo: Morning Star News www.morningstarnews.org
    Christian aid workers Godfrey Ali Shikagham (left) and Lawrence Duna Dacighir before their executions.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    The militant Islamic group Boko Haram released a video on September 22nd showing the execution of Lawrence Duna Dacighir and Godfrey Ali Shikagham. These two Christian men had left their homes in Abuja and travelled to Maiduguri in order to help build shelters for those displaced by recent violence.

    In the video, one of the three terrorists vowed to kill every Christian they captured, saying it would be done in revenge for Muslims who were killed in the country's past conflicts. It is unclear from the video exactly when the slain men were executed. For more reports on the violence facing Nigeria's Christians, go to our country report.

  • Government Assures Leah Sharibu is Alive
    Leah Sharibu
    Leah’s abductors released this
    photo in August 2018.

    More than a month ago, rumours began to spread that Leah Sharibu, a Christian teen who was kidnapped in February 2018, had been killed. At the time of that report, questions were raised about its accuracy. On August 31st, a presidential aide met with reporters, stating that Leah is still alive and that the government is working to negotiate her release. "The government is committed to her safe return, as well as all the other hostages," he assured.

  • Continued Violence Against Christians
    Destruction by the Fulani herdsmen - Photo: World Watch Monitor www.worldwatchmonitor.org
    The aftermath of an attack in an undated photo.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    A pregnant mother was killed in the village of Ancha, Plateau State, on July 15th. Margaret Wakili, 27, was bringing food to her husband in the field when eight men, who are believed to be Fulani herdsmen, suddenly initiated an attack. The husband heard them shout, "Allahu Akbar, we have killed an infidel, and we need to kill more." That day, an elderly woman from the same village was also attacked and killed.

  • Christians Slain After Worship
    Michael Anthony Pam - Photo: Morning Star News www.morningstarnews.org
    Michael Anthony Pam
    Photo: Morning Star News

    Several Christians were gunned down as they made their way home from worship services on May 26th in the city of Jos. According to one witness, Enoch Monday and Istifanus Ismailaj were killed in one attack, while Michael Anthony Pam and four others were killed in a separate incident that same day. As the violence continued, more than 12 houses were burned and a number of Christians were wounded.

  • Five Years After Chibok
    Chibok girls
    Several of the Chibok girls

    April 14th marked the fifth anniversary of an attack which shocked the world and devastated the lives of many in Nigeria. On that day, members of the Boko Haram militant group attacked a girls' school in Chibok, forcibly removing at least 276 young students, most of them Christians.

  • Attacks Against Christians Persist
    One of many buildings destroyed in the ongoing violence in Nigeria. - Photo: World Watch Monitor www.worldwatchmonitor.org
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    The violence against Christian communities in Nigeria continues unabated, resulting in dozens of deaths this February and March. As authorities seek how to effectively deal with the attacks, a West African court has ruled that, at least in one instance during 2016, Nigeria failed in its duty to protect citizens.

  • Election Brings Calls for Protection
    President Muhammadu Buhari - Photo: Wikipedia / Bayo Omoboriowo - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayo_Omoboriowo
    President Muhammadu Buhari
    Photo: Wikipedia /
    Bayo Omoboriowo

    With the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari this past weekend, organizations are calling on him to provide needed protection for the nation's vulnerable Christian communities; protection which has often been perceived as lacking.

    The Boko Haram terrorist group and the Fulani militants have killed tens of thousands and driven millions from their homes (see this page for reports). There has been a significant increase in attacks by Fulani herdsmen within the past year, particularly against farmers in largely Christian areas of northern Nigeria. The effect has been to drive the Christians out, leading to suspicions of a coordinated effort. Anglican Archbishop Jos Ben Kwashi states, "The government must rise to its responsibility to mete out justice and save lives."