IN THE NAME OF GOD, IT IS TIME TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
The face of religious persecution in Nigeria is real and growing. Our brothers and sisters are not alone… are they?
Internally displaced persons burned alive, riddled with bullets and attacked with machetes
Militants killed up to 200 Christians in Benue state, Nigeria, on Friday night, June 13. The victims were displaced families sleeping in makeshift shelters at Yelewata market square in Guma Local Government Area, near Makurdi. The attackers burst in shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is great”), set fire to the shelters and attacked those trying to flee with machetes.
Father Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee, pastor of Yelewata, spoke to ACN less than 12 hours after the attack. He recounted that he and other displaced people managed to survive by throwing themselves to the floor of the presbytery when they heard the gunshots. «When we heard the gunshots and saw the militants, we commended our lives to God. This morning, I give thanks for being alive,» he said.
The priest then visited the market square: «What I saw was really frightening. People were massacred. There were corpses everywhere.
There are over 100 million Christians in Nigeria
In Nigeria, Christians represent 46.2% of the population, but they face systemic discrimination, violence, and persecution every day. The situation has become increasingly unlivable for them because of the terrorist group Boko Haram, whose insurgency has displaced nearly 2.9 million people. Also, many priests have been kidnapped or murdered and the Christian population is being treated as second-class citizens.
Priests kidnapped or murdered in Nigeria in 2022:
28 Kidnapped priests
4 Murdered priests
Photo: Father Félix, who was kidnapped by unknown assailants on March 24, 2022. During his captivity, he was subjected to daily mistreatment, and was even shot in the left foot. Despite receiving no medical treatment, Fr. Felix managed to survive until his release on May 3, 2022, after a ransom was paid. He was promptly transported to a Catholic hospital in Wusasa, Zaria, where he underwent treatment for the next three months.
Deborah Samuel murdered for a text message
Deborah Samuel Yakubu was a student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, northern Nigeria. In May of 2022, she was accused of having sent a blasphemous WhatsApp message about Mohammed (a central figure for the Islam) during Ramadan (fasting and prayer period for Muslims), while the college was closed for holidays. When she returned to class, a group of students was waiting and attacked her.They threw stones at her and then set fire to her body. After two people were arrested for her murder, groups of rioters attacked Christian sites in different places in the state capital.
As Christians, we have a duty to support our brothers and sisters in faith who are suffering.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has been working tirelessly to support the local Church in Nigeria and to help those who have been persecuted and traumatized. From trauma centers for healing to sturdy cars for priests ministering in dangerous regions.
TESTIMONIES
Hope for persecuted Christians in Nigeria starts with you.
Your generosity can change lives. By donating you can make a difference and bring hope to those in need. Your support will go towards providing comfort, security, and a brighter future to those who need it most.
OUR PROJECTS
Trauma Centre for healing: Caring for the wounded and traumatized.
Sturdy cars for priests ministering in an unsafe region.
Addressing security challenges threatening the safety of religious sisters.
Support for internally displaced people in Borno and Benue state.
Eucharistic Adoration Center to give hope to traumatized Christians.
A Pontifical Foundation with worldwide reach
«I invite you all, together with ACN, to do a work of mercy in every part of the world.»
Contact
Aid to the Church in Need
ACN Global Office
Contact:
+57 313 3262029
info@acn-global.org
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