NIGERIA accounts for 89 per cent of Christians martyred worldwide, according to latest report on global Christian persecution.

The Open Doors World Watch List 2023, released on Tuesday, January 17, said out of the total of 5,621 Christians killed for their faith during the reporting period, Nigeria recorded 5,014, marking the country as one of the most dangerous places “to follow Jesus”.

The report tracked the period from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022.

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Open Doors said the data was compiled from grassroots reports by more than 4,000 of its workers across over 60 countries.

Urging the United States State Department to reconsider Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, the report said if not addressed, persecution against Christians “will soon trigger a vast humanitarian catastrophe across the continent”.


It added that the year under review “has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority South of the nation” while “Nigeria’s government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians’ rights are carried out with impunity”.

“Violence against Christians is most extreme in Nigeria where militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery”, the report added.

In a repeat of last year’s ranking, Nigeria ranked No. 1 in the World Watch List (WWL) subcategories of Christians killed, abducted, sexually harassed, forcibly married and physically or mentally abused.

It also ranked No. 1 in homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons as well as No. 2 in the subcategories of church attacks and internal displacement.


The report added that Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa are the epicenter of jihadist violence.

“The violations of religious freedom in Nigeria are emblematic of a rapidly growing Islamist presence in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Islamic extremism continues to cause the most persecution (31 nations), especially in sub-Sahara. Today’s report also marks 30 years of the list, first created in 1993 after the Iron Curtain fell.”

The report listed Nigeria, Pakistan, Cameroon, India, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Myanmar, Colombia and Niger in a chronological order as top ten countries where Christians face the highest rate of violence.


Open Doors blames Islamic suppression and extremism as the reason most of the listed countries are not safe for Christians.

Reacting, the managing director of research, Open Doors, Frans Veerman, said “the biggest threat to Christianity is that persecution brings isolation, and when it keeps going on incessantly it may cause loss of hope”.

“So the biggest threat to the church in countries with persecution is decrease of resilience caused by incessant persecution and the feeling of being forsaken by the rest of the body of Christ.”

Earlier, The ICIR reported how 11 years after surviving a Christmas Day bomb attack in 2011, a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Isaac Achi, was burnt to death by terrorists in Niger State, northern Nigeria.




https://www.icirnigeria.org/nigeria-accounts-for-89-of-martyred-christians-worldwide-report/

Nigeria accounts for 89% of martyred Christians worldwide - Report

Take El-Rufai SERIOUSLY. The lives of non-Muslims in Nigeria is under threat.

Seriously

Most where not killed because of their faith, but due to insecurity in Nigeria

Doesn't matter if you were Muslim, Ifa, Sunday Igboho or Nnamdi Kanu... The ruthless killers have no religion

I don't understand the reason of islamic supression and extremsim in these countries.

India is Hindu dominated, where muslim themselves are killed.
Myanmar is Buddhist dominated,here almost entire population of Muslims in the country are driven off to bangaladesh .
Colombia ,here Muslim account for 0.05 percent of population . 99.9 of religious people are Christians.

So why do these people Target only Muslims when Hindus, Buddhist and atheists are killing Christians .

Hell rufian, APC are evils Nigerians don't deserve. Christians should be careful. It will be worst under a mandate thief

Some Christians still don't know the history of Turkey.

Even I don't think Tinubu 's wife understands the Muslim Muslim package.

By Tuesday we may most likely have Muslim Senate President and Speaker.

Then everybody' s eye go clear.

iammo:
Most where not killed because of their faith, but due to insecurity in Nigeria

Doesn't matter if you were Muslim, Ifa, Sunday Igboho or Nnamdi Kanu... The ruthless killers have no religion

That's a very big lie, there is ongoing Jihad in Nigeria masked in different forms....

Brendaniel:


That's a very big lie, there is ongoing Jihad in Nigeria masked in different forms....

Do you even know the meaning of Jihad?!

Who the fvck wants you to be Muslim

Core Muslims North don't even care or want to convert you.

Where is the Jihad taking place exactly

iammo:


Do you even know the meaning of Jihad?!

Who the fvck wants you to be Muslim

Core Muslims North don't even care or want to convert you.

Where is the Jihad taking place exactly

Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Benue, Nassarawa, Niger and some other parts of the country...

Brendaniel:


Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Benue, Nassarawa, Niger and some other parts of the country...

That's fight for land and control of ariable green land by herders

iammo:


That's fight for land and control of ariable green land by herders

Yes, it is Islamic, same way they got control of other Nothern lands and have emirs there today....

Brendaniel:


Yes, it is Islamic, same way they got control of other Nothern lands and have emirs there today....

You seem quite ignorant of agriculture, local economy and religion

iammo:


You seem quite ignorant of agriculture, local economy and religion

Oga it has one undertone(Islam) , it has been used as a tool to gain dominance both politically, religiously and every other means since the days Dan fodio, you think the approach will always be the same, El-rufai is a living example....

Brendaniel:


Oga it has one undertone(Islam) , it has been used as a tool to gain dominance both politically, religiously and every other means since the days Dan fodio, you think the approach will always be the same, El-rufai is a living example....

Like I said you are very very very ignorant... I have lived and traves to most core Muslim countries and you would understand that they give no fvck about you

Herdsmen want land that all

iammo:


Like I said you are very very very ignorant... I have lived and traves to most core Muslim countries and you would understand that they give no fvck about you

Herdsmen want land that all

So El-rufai is lying?

I’ve been in this country 3 decades and counting, and we have been hearing Islamization Islamization blah blah blah. I’m still looking for one person forced to change his or her faith.
Now where are the killings? What kind of mumu report is this?

EKONGKING:
I don't understand the reason of islamic supression and extremsim in these countries.

India is Hindu dominated, where muslim themselves are killed.

So why do these people Target only Muslims when Hindus, Buddhist and atheists are killing Christians .

Factually incorrect.
Indian population mix
1950: Hindu: 84.9% Muslim: 9.8% Christians: 2%
2011: Hindu: 79.8% Muslim: 14.2% Christians: 3%
Source: India Census Data

Muslim and Christian populations in India have grown at a faster rate than Hindu population. There are laws that favour Muslims and Christians over Hindus. Muslims and Christians have control over their own Mosques and Churches whereas Hindu temples are placed under government control by law. Muslim pilgrimage to Haj is actively subsidized by Government of India. India has had Muslims as Presidents. It is clear from this that India is not actively targeting Muslims.

Not denying that there are Hindu-Muslim and Hindu-Christian and even Muslim-Christian clashes or riots in India. Just pointing out the fact that it is not one-sided oppression of Muslims, despite what the international media portrays it as. Instead, it is two communities of different religions fighting each other even as they continue to thrive together.

I don't blame you for misunderstanding, though. You are a victim of media propaganda and confirmation bias. But when faced with data, I expect you wjll manage to identify and correct your false bias.

Very true here. The moderators should move it to front page