The terrifying video features the beheading of four people. It shows an armed terrorist dressed in sweats, speaking in Hausa. He exclaims that one of the victims is his younger sister: “She’s part of the infidels we will annihilate today. Anyone who goes against our religion will share the same fate, including women and children. Wherever there is an infidel, we will go and find them out by ourselves and execute them.”

Even though it has not been confirmed whether the victims are Christians, humanitarian agencies agree that Christians are the primary targets in Nigeria. Open Doors’ legal expert for sub-Saharan Africa stated: “Boko Haram extremists have clearly said time and time again that they are waging a jihad against people they call ‘infidels’ – that is anyone who does not sign up to their extreme interpretation of Islam. Some of the people at the top of this list, then, are Christians who are clear targets because of their faith.”

Nigerian authorities closed down the displacement camps, where refugees could find shelter. These people are now forced to return home, under severe risks of torture, kidnapping and murder. According to the legal expert, whose real name has been withheld for security purposes: “The authorities have offered incentives to returnees, such as food parcels or one-off payments. Displaced Christians are very reluctant to return because of ongoing insecurity and unexploded mines planted in their villages. Some Christians who did return were attacked by militants and fled again.”

Several states in Nigeria support blasphemy laws, whose primary purpose is to criminalize minority religious beliefs. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project published a report in 2022. Based on this, anti-Christian violence rose 21% from 2020 to 2021 and another 25% from 2021 to 2022. Christians in the Middle Belt and the North are particularly vulnerable to jihadist terrorists like Boko Haram, who primarily target churches, Christian girls and women and religious leaders.

Based on reports from the United Nations, over 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than two million have been displaced in the north east region of Nigeria. 

Source: https://www.christiantoday.com