Nigeria: Our Country in Focus this Lent and Easter
In the past few years, attacks against Christians in Nigeria have escalated. In 2020 more than 50 people including, women and children, died during the Pentecost Sunday attack on a church in Owo. Between January 2021 and June 2022, thousands of Christians were murdered and displaced because of their Faith, while 2023 saw more violence in the brutal murder of a pastor.
Nigerian Bishops are crying out for justice, calling on the government to stop the violence, but to no avail.
This Lent, Aid to the Church in Need-USA remembers all the victims who suffered at the hands of terror groups, like Boko Haram and Muslim Fulani herdsmen. Aid to the Church in Need is helping with the healing of many victims. Please see below the unimaginable stories of suffering and hope.
Words from the wounded
“Boko Haram chased us out of our village and, burned our houses; we were lucky to be alive but suddenly homeless.Without shoes, I made my way to one of the camps run by the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Diocese of Maiduguri.
Upon reaching the camp, I saw my Christian brothers, and I was immediately filled with joy. and I felt at home. They were happy to see me and my family.It did take some time for us to heal, but through the Trauma Center [established by ACN], we were able to successfully undergo a process of healing, get rid of our past pain, settle in the camp, and start life anew. The process increased my faith in God.”
“Nine years of living in bondage! Nine years of torture! Nine years of agony! We suffered so much at the hands of these heartless, ruthless people. For nine years we saw the shedding of the innocent blood of my fellow Christians, killed by people who do not value life. They murdered without remorse, like it’s a normal thing to do. These nine wasted years in the Sambisa forest cannot be forgotten in a blink of an eye. Words cannot do justice to what I’ve gone through.
“The first thing they did was to pray for me and encourage me to come back to my faith. I am happy to return to Christianity. Since I returned to Maiduguri the pain has decreased. I am hoping that, with time, God will help me overcome my bitterness and embrace peace, though I do not see that happening any time soon. I still feel that pain echoing in my ears. “
They pointed a machete at my father and told him they would set us free if he had sex with me. I could not hold back my tears! I was shaking, but I could do nothing! My mother could not utter a word due to the state of shock she was in. With a machete pointed at my father’s forehead, he looked at my mother and at me, but I avoided eye contact because I was ashamed to look him in the face, ashamed of what the men had suggested – it was an abomination!
“My father put his head down in submission to be killed and answered: ‘I cannot sleep with my own flesh and blood, my own daughter, I would rather die than commit this abomination.’
“On hearing this, one of the men took out a machete and cut off my father’s head, right in front of us. The pain that I felt at that moment, was unbearable.
“At first my experience drew me away from God. It was difficult to trust and come back to Him. Ironically, in the end my bitter experience has brought me closer to God.
I have learned that God is still God. Amidst all that I have gone through, I will still trust Him, and I will serve Him for the rest of my life.
“I am Christiana James. I live in the Polo camp, in Maiduguri, with my mother and siblings. I lost my father at the hands of Boko Haram. They attacked my village and destroyed lives and properties. I was in school when the attack happened, but they also came to our school, and killed some children. Thank God I survived. On reaching my house, I discovered Boko Haram had killed my father, which made me very sad. Things were not the same after the death of my father, things became very hard.
“I feel so blessed to be one of the beneficiaries of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). I was very excited when the Bishop of Maiduguri welcomed us, and when he learned that I am was no longer going to school he helped my mother enroll me in one of the best mission schools, St. Hilary primary and secondary school, in Maiduguri.
“I can read, write and speak English, all thanks to ACN. We eat three times a day because ACN made that possible. All our medical expenses are taken care of as well.
“I promise to study hard, and become someone great in the future, so that you all will be proud of me.”
I was clearing the bushes on the farm, while the others were digging out the yams, when I heard my mother scream. I turned to see what was going on, and we were surrounded by Fulani herdsmen. There were six of them. One of them had a gun in his hand, the others had machetes. I was terrified, and I said to myself, “this is how my entire family will be wiped off the face of the earth.”
They were so close that we couldn’t run far before getting caught. One of the men took his machete and cut off my mother’s head.
On saying that, he shot my father. My heart could not take in this act of sickness. I knelt and started pleading for mercy. They beat me up, using a machete on my hand, leg and head. That is all I can remember. When I woke up, I found myself in the hospital.
“I just want to close my eyes, open them, and stop this nightmare. I want to be healed and stand on my own feet. I crave for justice for Clement Ukertor and for Christiana Ukertor, my parents. I wish to forget the torture and the humiliation I have been through. Above all, I wish that these attacks would end, so we can live in peace with each other, go back to our homes, and carry on with our lives.”
News of the Suffering and persecuted
Nigerian prelate demands to be treated justly
“We hope these new leaders will treat everybody fairly and justly, so that it doesn’t matter who you are, you should be treated as any other citizen. We are not making any special demand, just to be treated justly, fairly and with equity.”
‘Our brother’s blood set us free’—Nigerian seminarians recall their kidnapping
They beat us during those phone calls. We were crying with the tension, while our parents listened over the phone. This routine continued for about two weeks. Every time we made the call, they beat us.
Nigeria: We ask our leaders, ‘Why do you allow your citizens to be killed?’
“Some camp residents have suffered multiple displacements. Others have seen their loved ones slaughtered, shot at, and butchered like animals. We have staff who give psycho-social counselling to address their trauma.”
Nigeria: young woman loses both parents in Fulani herdsmen attack
“One of the men took his machete and cut off my mother’s head. Her blood splashed on my face. I screamed.”
Pilgrimage of a lifetime: Two Boko Haram victims blessed by the Pope
“They put the Christians in cages, like animals. The first thing they did was forcefully convert us to Islam. … The warned us not to pray as Christians or we would be killed.”
Nigerian farmer dies protecting his son in Fulani herdsmen attack
“I ran to my hut, where I found my husband lying in a pool of blood. He had been shot in the head, and he was lying on top of our son, who was also covered in blood. I could not control my tears. I was devastated!”
Persecution outlook around the world
Christians around the world face persecution for various reasons, including government oppression, cultural hostility, extremist attacks, official religious domination, and violations of religious freedom.
In authoritarian regimes like North Korea, China or Eritrea, Christianity is viewed as a threat to power and control. In cultures where a majority religion dominates, Christians may be seen as outsiders and targeted for abuse.
Extremist groups, such as Islamic extremists in the Middle East and Nigeria, target Christians out of religious hatred. Some countries have laws and policies in place that limit or prohibit the practice of Christianity, often in the name of serving the dominant religion.
Religious freedom is often disregarded as a basic human right, leading to persecution, suffering, and denial of rights.
