The Nigerian army has had some success subduing Islamist group Boko Haram, but Christians are still being killed in Nigeria. Many of the killings are carried out by nomadic Hausa-Fulani herdsmen, a largely Muslim ethnic group that frequently targets the more settled Christian farming communities of central Nigeria. Meanwhile, 12 of Nigeria’s northern states employ Sharia (Islamic law), and Christians in these states face discrimination and restrictions in accessing community resources, such as clean water, health clinics, and higher education.
Nigeria: ‘Dangerous speech and polarising narratives’ fuel Middle Belt violence – report
![Attacks from Fulani herders against Christians in the Middle Belt have been on the increase, [caption id="attachment_37447" align="aligncenter" width="770"]Attacks from Fulani herders against Christians in the Middle Belt have been on the increase, displacing thousands of people. (Photo: World Watch Monitor) Attacks from Fulani herders against Christians in the Middle Belt have been on the increase and the conflict has become the country’s gravest security challenge. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)](https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Nigeria_2017_0270101215-1-270x200.jpg)
The use of dangerous rhetoric and religious polarisation has contributed to the escalation and can spark further violence, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, ahead of the presidential elections this Saturday, says a new report. Central Nigeria is seen as one of the most influential constituencies in Saturday’s elections “because of […]
As Nigeria votes, family and churches urge candidates to remember Christian teen Leah Sharibu
One year since the Christian teenager Leah Sharibu was abducted from her boarding school in north-eastern Nigeria by an Islamist group, a coalition of groups have called on presidential candidates to tell Nigerians how they plan to secure her release. “We are urging the political parties and their candidates that […]
Nigeria elections: Whomever wins, Christians hope for justice and security
As Nigerians are preparing to go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new president, Boko Haram has been stepping up attacks in the northeast of the country, making it difficult if not impossible for people to vote. On Tuesday, 12 February, the Islamist militants attacked Madagali town, Gulak, Magar […]
US Ambassador tells Nigerians: “Citizens are the government”
As Nigerians prepare for elections this week, the US Ambassador encouraged religious leaders to “inspire non-violence through their actions”, reports the Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust. Stuart Symington told Christian and Muslim leaders at a roundtable event in the central Nigerian city of Jos last week (6 February) that “it’s about […]
Nigeria’s herder-farmer conflict escalates due to government inaction – Amnesty International
Almost 4,000 people have been killed and thousands displaced in fighting between herders and farmers in Nigeria’s middle belt in the past three years, Amnesty International says in a new report. Amnesty, who started documenting clashes in January 2016, said yesterday (17 December) violence was increasing with more than half […]
Prince Charles bypassing Jos ‘robbed Nigeria’s Christians of opportunity to create awareness about our travails’
Christians in Nigeria’s central state of Plateau are upset about the Federal Government of Nigeria advising Prince Charles to bypass Jos, the capital of Plateau, during his visit to the country as part of a tour of West Africa. Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, arrived in Abuja, the capital, […]
Chibok girls last seen in northern Cameroon
A Nigerian woman who was kept in captivity by Boko Haram with some of the Chibok schoolgirls has escaped and brought news of the girls to their parents, Reuters reported earlier this month. Jumai, 35, from a town near Chibok, was captured with her six children in April 2014 – around […]
Nigeria: Stop ‘rumour mongering’ that led to Kaduna violence, says church leader
A senior church leader in Nigeria has said that “rumour mongering” was at the heart of last week’s violence in north-western Kaduna state, which killed 55 people, reports Nigeria’s Daily Post. Following the violence a curfew was imposed. The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Rev. Mathew Ndagoso, urged citizens to refrain […]
Nigerian student recalls the night 10 family members were killed in front of her
When 23-year-old student Blessing Kogi returned home on Thursday 27 September, she was full of joy, expecting to spend a restful evening with her family in their quiet, residential neighbourhood of Rukuba Road, in the south-western outskirts of Jos, the capital of Nigeria’s Plateau state. Twelve members of her family […]
Chibok girls documentary airing tonight in the US
A documentary showing the struggle of 103 Nigerian schoolgirls to reintegrate after their release from Boko Haram captivity will show tonight on the US satellite TV channel HBO. Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram, a co-production of HBO, BBC2 and ARTE France, will be on at 7pm Central Time. The […]