In a harrowing report released on Ash Wednesday, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) disclosed that Nigeria experienced its bloodiest year of Islamist attacks against Christians in 2023, with more than 8,000 individuals killed.
The report provides grim details of the widespread violence, kidnappings, and forced disappearances predominantly targeting Christian communities across various regions of Nigeria.
According to the report, the violence was perpetrated by different factions, including Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, responsible for approximately 5,100 Christian deaths, Boko Haram and affiliated groups causing 500 deaths, Jihadist Fulani Bandits contributing to 1,600 deaths, and “Islamic-inspired” security forces accounting for 1,000 Christian deaths.
The 13-month period from January 2023 to January 2024 is described as the deadliest in recent years, highlighting the failure of the Nigerian government and security forces to adequately address and curb the escalating violence.
The report asserts that since 2009, Nigeria has become the second deadliest country for religiously motivated civilian deaths globally, with more than 150,000 lives lost.
Of this number, approximately 100,000 were Christians, 46,000 were moderate Muslims, and 4,000 belonged to other religious groups.
The report also outlines the destruction of tens of thousands of homes, over 18,500 Christian places of worship, 1,000 religious shrines, and 2,500 Christian/Traditional education centers.
Additionally, it notes the displacement and expulsion of inhabitants from over 59,000 square kilometers of land.
Emeka Umeagbalasi, Director of Intersociety, emphasized the complicity of the Nigerian government, including both the previous Buhari administration and the current Tinubu government, along with the security forces, in the ongoing violence against Christians.
“This government is not different from the Buhari government,” he said.
The report specifically points to the unchecked operations of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, accusing security forces of turning a blind eye to their actions.
“The most shocking of it all is that the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen operate freely and unchallenged with impunity and reckless abandon; with the Nigerian Security Forces (NSFs), widely accused of being ‘Islamic-inspired,’ turning blind eyes or looking the other side; except when it comes to protection of Fulani cows and their herders; or arresting members of the victim communities and their leaders; labeling them “bandits,” the report says.
