Nigeria has once again been identified as the world’s most dangerous country for Christians, as killings, abductions and widespread displacement of believers continue unabated, according to a fresh report by international advocacy group Open Doors.
The report states that Christians in Nigeria face “extreme levels of persecution,” noting that the country has remained the deadliest place for followers of Jesus for several consecutive years. With an estimated Christian population of more than 107 million, Nigeria accounts for a significant proportion of global deaths linked to faith-based violence.
Open Doors said persecution is most intense in northern Nigeria, where 12 states operate under Islamic (Sharia) law. In these areas, Christians are often treated as second-class citizens, while converts from Islam face severe reprisals, including mob attacks, forced displacement and even death.
The report highlighted the sustained activities of Islamist militant groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which continue to target Christians, churches and Christian-owned properties across the north and parts of the Middle Belt.
It also pointed to persistent attacks by militant Fulani herdsmen, who are accused of disproportionately targeting Christian farming communities in the Middle Belt, killing hundreds and displacing millions over recent years.
According to Open Doors, the insecurity has increasingly spread to southern Nigeria, driven largely by Fulani militants operating from forested areas. In the South-East, the group identified the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as another source of pressure on Christians, alleging that the separatist group has persecuted Christian leaders who do not align with its ideological agenda.
“Persecution is most acute in northern Nigeria, where militants operate with impunity and violence is often hidden from international view,” the report said.
Christians living in Sharia-governed states were described as particularly vulnerable, especially converts from Islam. The report warned that accusations of blasphemy or insulting the Prophet Muhammad frequently trigger vigilante violence, sometimes resulting in killings.
Open Doors also documented survivor testimonies. One victim, identified as Rifkatu, said she was abducted and raped by Fulani militants because of her Christian faith. “They did this to us because we are Christians. In the camp where I was held, I did not see any Muslims among the captives,” she said.
The report noted that violence against Christians remained widespread in the past year, with hundreds killed and entire communities forced to flee their homes. Most attacks were attributed to militant Fulani groups, Boko Haram, ISWAP and newly emerging extremist factions.
As a result, Nigeria continues to rank among the top 10 countries on the World Watch List, Open Doors’ annual index of nations where Christians face the most severe persecution.
The organisation urged the international community to take urgent action, warning that without decisive intervention, millions of Nigerian Christians will remain exposed to what it described as one of the world’s gravest religious freedom crises.
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