Parshall Partners

Protecting Christians in Nigeria

         In 1st Corinthians 12: 26, the Bible tells us that “If one member suffers, all suffer together…”  We are a body of believers separated by geographical boundaries but united under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  THAT is why I talk so often on my radio program about the Persecuted Church’.  We need to know how to pray for and how to protect our brothers and sisters around the globe.

         Nigeria has become a major hot spot for Christian persecution.  Based on reports from human rights organizations and tracking groups, tens of thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, with estimates for the total death toll ranging from 50,000 to over 100,000 in that timeframe. In 2025 alone, over 7,000 Christians were reported killed within the first eight months of the year, averaging roughly 30–35 deaths per day. Nigeria is frequently ranked as one of the deadliest places in the world to be a Christian.

         The good news in the midst of a bad news story is that America is starting to speech up and against this kind of persecution. As of late 2025 and early 2026, President Donald Trump has redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing the persecution of Christians and threatening potential military action if the Nigerian government fails to curb violence. But now, some voices in Congress are being heard as well. 

         U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, and a staunch human rights defender as well as Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV), with the support of other lawmakers, have introduced legislation that would require the U.S. Secretary of State to compile and submit a comprehensive report to Congress on U.S. efforts to address Christian persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.

         The legislation is entitled Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (H.R. 7457), and has already gained broad support.  Most of the attacks on Christians in Nigeria have come from Fulani militias, Boko Haram, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) extremist groups

         Rep. Smith has said, ““The Nigerian government’s blatant denial of the religious persecution occurring within its borders has only enabled the religious-based violence in the country to fester, with Christian deaths and church attacks reaching unprecedented numbers.”

         The Christians in Nigeria are suffering in multiple ways.  Since 2009, between 19,00 to 20,000 churches and schools have been destroyed.  Displacement is a huge issue with over 3 million people estimated to be internally displaced by the violence in the northern and middle belt regions. 

         If this legislation were to become law, it would create greater scrutiny of extremist groups, a stronger response from the Nigerian government, and greater transparency in U.S. efforts on sanctions and solutions.

         Now you know.  Don’t stop praying for the Persecuted Church but also use the voice the Lord gave you to work to protect Nigerian Christians.  Call the Capital Hill switchboard today at 202-224-3121 to show your support for HR 7457.

         Those are my thoughts.  I’m Janet Parshall.