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.
UPDATE: Fresh attacks on Christian villages in Benue, Central Nigeria
The aftermath of an attack, which claimed hundreds of lives, in the central Nigerian state of Benue, Feb. 2016.World Watch Monitor UPDATE (27 July): A fresh attack in the central Nigerian State of Benue by suspected Fulani herdsmen has left at least 14 dead in the predominantly Christian area […]
Now hunger threatens Nigerian Christians who’ve fled Boko Haram
Internally displaced people queuing for relief materials in Maiduguri, Borno State. Oct. 2014World Watch Monitor ”I met a child today who came to our clinic, looking very thin and definitely showing signs of hunger. His parents don’t live in our camp, but they brought him here for health checks…” […]
N. Nigerian church attacked for ‘Friday’ services
A Catholic church in Niger State, northern Nigeria, was attacked by Muslim youths on Friday (15 July). Eyewitnesses told the Daily Post that people who had gone to the church to pray were attacked by Muslims claiming that Friday was their day of prayer and that Christians only had the […]
14 million affected by Nigeria conflict
Boko Haram’s insurgency has created a severe humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s north-eastern States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, says ACAPS, a Swiss-based research group, in its July . Over 14 million people are affected by conflict in these states and more than 10 million are in need, it says. Recent […]
UPDATE: Nigerian Christians told to ‘buckle up’ after preacher hacked to death
Mother of seven, Eunice Elisha, was murdered close to Nigeria’s capital, AbujaWorld Watch Monitor A female preacher was hacked to death in the early hours of 9 July near Nigeria’s capital. Eunice Elisha, a mother of seven, had gone out to preach as was usual, her husband, Olawale Elisha, […]
Pastor hacked to death in Nasarawa, C. Nigeria
A pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Obi town, in Nigeria’s central State of Nasarawa, was killed by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen on 30 June. Rev. Joseph Kurah, accompanied by three other people, went to his farm at about 7pm to cut down trees for roofing wood. […]
Chibok girls’ life with Boko Haram
New details about the ordeal of the Chibok girls at the hands of Boko Haram have now emerged. A month ago, Amina Ali was the first of a group of 219 schoolgirls detained by the radical Islamist group to be rescued, prompting widespread coverage. Yakubu Nkeki, a spokesman for the […]
Nigerian Army claims it’s freed 5000 hostages
The Nigerian army says it has freed over 5,000 people held hostage by Boko Haram during an operation conducted on June 25, in the north-eastern of the country. Six militants killed and several others wounded, said the army spokesperson, Col. Sani Usman. Yet local media and NGOs have not been […]
Rescued Chibok girl still missing
“BringBackOurGirls”, an advocacy group which has been campaigning for the safe rescue of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, has expressed concerns over the whereabouts of Amina Ali, the first girl rescued a month ago. On 19 May, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari promised the government “will do everything possible” to ensure that […]
Nigeria considers giving Islamic appeals courts authority to take criminal cases
A Sharia court in northern Nigeria.Courtesy of Open Doors The situation Nigeria’s National Assembly is considering a change to the country’s constitution that would expand the scope of jurisdiction of the country’s Islamic Sharia courts of appeal. Currently, the constitution limits those appellate courts to matters concerning family law. […]