Pray for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are suffering violent religious conflict.

Reflect
Nigeria, a country that is half Christian and half Muslim, has been plagued by complicated and multifaceted dynamics of religious conflict, including competition for natural resources between Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. At the juridical level, however, the resurgence of Sharia Law in 12 of the 20 northern states in 2000 has further marked the north-south divide that has been present in Nigeria since before independence from the British Empire in 1960. Christians in states under Sharia Law are many times obligated to adhere to its tenets, and face much civil society discrimination, including the denial of public services and the imposition of Muslim religious garb. Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna once remarked: “Religious persecution in the north is systemic. For you to be able to practice your religion freely, you should be able to preach anywhere. That is not possible in the north. I cannot build a church, yet the Government employs and pays imams to teach in schools. Every year they have money to build mosques in the budget but will not let you build churches.” Beyond the political dimension, radicalization of Fulani herders, as well as elements of Boko Haram—which persecutes both Christians and Muslims—has contributed an increase in anti-Christian violence. The country ranks first in the numbers of Christians killed in 2024 (3,100) and kidnapped (2,830). 

Act
Build solidarity with fellow Christians throughout the world by continuing to pray and learn about their struggles. Stay informed by signing up for the USCCB’s religious liberty newsletter, First Freedom News.