By BVoltaire-
This tragedy, far from being isolated, reflects a global persecution affecting millions of Christians around the world.
The Holy Week 2025 was marked by a horrific tragedy in Nigeria. In Plateau State, in the north of the country, coordinated attacks on Christian villages resulted in around 200 deaths, according to Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto. Attributed to Islamist Fulani militias, these massacres targeted Christian farmers, reigniting ethnic and religious tensions. Churches were burned, homes razed, families torn apart: the country is sinking into a spiral of violence amid government inaction. These atrocities, taking place during Easter celebrations, highlight the vulnerability of Christians, the main victims of chronic insecurity in this country of 230 million people.
Systemic violence against Christians
These attacks are part of a cycle of persecution in Nigeria. According to the NGO Intersociety, 52,250 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2023, including 4,118 between 2022 and 2023, representing 82% of Christians murdered worldwide that year. Fulani militias, often linked to jihadist groups such as Boko Haram or ISWAP, orchestrate raids to drive Christians off their lands. Bishop Kukah describes this violence as a “slow genocide,” denouncing the authorities’ passivity in the face of a crisis that has displaced 5 million Christians. These acts, often synchronized with Christian holidays, recall the Christmas 2023 massacre, where 200 people perished.
International silence exacerbates the Christian exodus. The late Pope Francis, in his March 25, 2024 message, urged Nigerians to reject tribalism and pray for peace, but the international community remains largely unresponsive. NGOs such as Open Doors highlight the systematic nature of the attacks, particularly in the north and center of the country. Christians, confronted with insecurity and poverty, are left helpless. This tragedy, far from isolated, reflects a broader persecution affecting millions of believers.
Christianity, the most persecuted religion in 2025
In 2025, Christianity remains the most persecuted religion worldwide. According to Open Doors’ World Watch List (October 2023–September 2024), 380 million Christians — one in seven — live in countries where they suffer persecution or discrimination. During this period, 4,744 Christians were killed for their faith, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria being the hardest hit. Additionally, 7,679 churches or Christian institutions were attacked, more than half of them in Rwanda, and 42,360 Christians were arrested or kidnapped. These figures, up 60% since 2020, reflect the intensification of Islamist extremism, particularly in the Sahel region.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reports that in 60% of the 18 countries studied between 2022 and 2024, the situation for Christians worsened. In Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mozambique, jihadist violence has intensified, while in India, Hindu nationalism has fueled increased discrimination. In Asia, two out of five Christians are persecuted, compared to one in five in Africa. In response to this crisis, the Church is calling for global mobilization to defend religious freedom, a right that is being violated in 78 countries, where radical Islamism remains the main driver of violence.
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