Silent Slaughter: Over 8,000 Christians Killed in Nigeria in 2023 Alone
When it comes to religious beliefs, Christians are the most persecuted people and no one is talking about it.
In the year 2023, a staggering toll of over 8,000 Christians fell victim to Islamist violence in Nigeria, as reported by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety). The recently released report served as a grim testament to the relentless onslaught faced by Christian communities across various regions of the country. Within its pages lay accounts of atrocities that shook the conscience: accounts of brutal killings, harrowing kidnappings, and the haunting specter of forced disappearances, all predominantly targeting followers of the Christian faith.
The perpetrators of these heinous acts were diverse yet united in their malevolence. Among them were the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, whose actions accounted for a significant portion of the deaths recorded. Boko Haram, infamous for its ruthless insurgency, added to the tally with its merciless assaults on Christian communities. Equally culpable were the Jihadist Fulani Bandits, whose violence further exacerbated the already dire situation. Shockingly, even elements within the security apparatus, described as "Islamic-inspired," were implicated in the bloodshed, betraying their duty to protect and serve.
The report painted a bleak portrait of a nation engulfed in a protracted conflict, a war against Christians that had been raging since the emergence of Boko Haram in 2009. It underscored the wanton destruction wrought upon Christian communities: homes reduced to rubble, places of worship desecrated, and educational institutions laid to waste. The ensuing displacement of countless individuals only served to deepen the humanitarian crisis, leaving families torn apart and livelihoods shattered.
Nigeria ranks sixth on the World Watch List for Christian persecution, with 5,014 believers killed in 2022 alone due to their faith. Since 2009, jihadist forces have claimed the lives of at least 52,000 Christians and 34,000 moderate Muslims. Shockingly, 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools have been destroyed. Churchgoers aren’t safe to worship on holy days. For example, on a fairly recent Pentecost Sunday dozens were killed in church attacks. The Plateau State tragedy, while horrifying, could have been much worse, according to officials, but it highlights the urgent need for a shift in security policy towards proactive prevention. Despite promises from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to combat insecurity, Amnesty International calls for an independent investigation, citing empty promises and escalating violence. Christmas brought more bloodshed, with 16 killed in Sokoto State, while Kaduna State witnessed a tragic irony as over 100 Muslims were mistakenly targeted in a military bombing campaign, underscoring the challenges of maintaining religious harmony amidst conflict.
Amidst this backdrop of violence and despair, the complicity of the Nigerian government and security forces emerged as a damning indictment. Far from safeguarding its citizens, the authorities were accused of turning a blind eye to the plight of persecuted Christians, allowing impunity to flourish unchecked. Emeka Umeagbalasi, Director of Intersociety, minced no words in denouncing the situation as nothing short of a "silent genocide," a systematic eradication of Christians in Nigeria that unfolded in the shadows, away from the glare of international scrutiny.
As the world turned its gaze elsewhere, Nigeria grappled with the echoes of its own tragedy, its soil soaked with the blood of the innocent. In the face of such relentless brutality, the cry for justice rang hollow, drowned out by the deafening silence of indifference. And as the toll of human suffering continued to mount, the specter of genocide loomed ever larger, casting a dark shadow over the land.
Despite the scale of the atrocities unfolding in Nigeria, the plight of persecuted Christians and the escalating violence against them remain largely absent from Western media coverage. The staggering death toll, the destruction of churches and schools, and the ongoing terror inflicted upon communities seem to have fallen into a void of silence on the global stage. The lack of attention from Western media not only perpetuates a cycle of indifference but also denies these victims the acknowledgment and solidarity they deserve. As the international community turns a blind eye to the suffering in Nigeria, it becomes imperative for advocacy groups, humanitarian organizations, and concerned individuals to amplify the voices of the oppressed and demand accountability for the atrocities committed against them. Only through increased awareness and concerted action can the cycle of violence and persecution be broken, and the victims find hope for a future free from fear and bloodshed.
Sources
2. Christianity Today. (2023, December). Nigeria's Christmas Massacre in Plateau.
3. Genocide Watch. (n.d.). Nigeria's Silent Slaughter: 62,000 Christians Murdered Since 2000.
5. The Christian Post. (n.d.). Over 8,000 Christians Killed in Nigeria in 2023: Watchdog.
Why on earth is this article in the Austrian Economic online newsletter? Do you think only this conflict against Christians is hidden from the field of view of Western media? What a persecution complex and mask off moment rolled into one.