Intersociety Raises Alarm Over Escalating Killings, Persecution of Christians in Nigeria
A human rights organisation, International Society for Civil Rights and Rule of Law, has alleged continued persecution and killing of Christians across Nigeria, despite repeated denials by the government.
The group, which has consistently raised concerns over what it describes as targeted violence against Christians, said the situation has worsened in recent months, with attacks and alleged destruction of churches increasing.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, alongside other officials, Intersociety claimed that the killings and persecution have expanded, with what it described as unchecked involvement of state actors.
The organisation further alleged that despite significant resources reportedly spent by the Nigerian government on international engagements to counter claims of a “Christian genocide,” incidents of violence have continued to rise.
According to the group, “the massacre of Christians and persecution of churches have continued and become increasingly widespread,” adding that government denials have been overshadowed by what it called growing evidence of bias and alleged protection of perpetrators.
Intersociety also claimed that 1,402 Christians were killed and 1,800 abducted between January 1 and April 6, 2026.
“These figures skyrocketed… totalling 1,402 Christian deaths and 1,800 abductions in the first 96 days of 2026,” the statement said.
Providing further breakdown, the group noted that 350 deaths were recorded in recent weeks, including incidents during the Holy Week and Easter period.
It added that some deaths occurred in captivity, stating, “out of every ten abducted Christians, one is not coming back alive.”
The organisation identified states such as Benue, Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Bauchi, Zamfara, Kebbi, Taraba, Adamawa, and Niger as major hotspots of the alleged attacks.
It also raised concerns over the growing number of displaced persons, noting that many affected individuals are currently sheltering in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the country.
The Nigerian government has, however, maintained in previous statements that there is no targeted campaign against Christians, attributing insecurity in the country to broader criminal and insurgent activities.
