Based on reports recorded by International Christian Concern, the 1,347 slayed Christians in Nigeria were mostly women, children and elderly. 741 people were murdered in Mangu county, 397 were killed in Bokkos county,  and 209 were slain in Barkin Ladi.  

Naomi David, a 43-year widow in Barkin Ladi county who lost her husband and eight family members, pleaded: “Help us with food. My village was attacked by Fulani militants on Christmas Eve. The total number of people killed in the attack is 22. My husband was killed with eight others from my family. We are suffering without food, and Fulani have occupied our land to graze their cattle.”

Experts agree that Nigeria is infamous for being the least tolerant country towards Christians, especially in the North. Of the 5,500 Christians who were killed last year because of their faith, 90% were Nigerian. According to a report released by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, at least 52,250 people have been killed over the last 14 years in Nigeria for being Christian.

Megan Meador, the Communications Officer from the faith-based legal advocacy organization, Alliance Defending Freedom International, stated: “Religious minorities in Nigeria, including Christians who have converted from Islam, are often denied the ability to freely live out their faith because of targeted threats and attacks against them. It’s especially difficult for Christian converts, particularly in the northern part of the country, because it’s often their own friends and family, or even whole communities, that reject them. There are more Christian martyrs in Nigeria than anywhere else on earth. Ninety per cent of Christians who have been killed for their faith over the last year have been murdered in Nigeria. The persecution comes from terrorists, from machete-wielding militias, from mob violence and laws that implicitly encourage them, and from authorities who are indifferent to the mayhem and shrug off these atrocities, allowing perpetrators to go free while punishing victims. The Constitution at face value provides strong protection for religious freedom, equal to that provided under international law. But when states implement criminal Sharia law, it clearly goes beyond the constitution and leads to tragic results. We’ve had cases where Christians have been hauled in front of Sharia courts, without jurisdiction, and accused of crimes like apostasy, which is not supposed to be a crime in Nigeria.”

Women, elderly people and children are stuck in refugee camps and are suffering from inadequate food supply. According to Abdu, the government has limited resources due to economic burdens.

Source: https://www.persecution.org/