Violence against Christians in Nigeria

Violence against Christian populations in Nigeria has escalated throughout 2026, characterized by mass abductions and killings. In August 2026, reports indicated that at least 92 Christian travelers from South-East and South-South regions were abducted during seven separate incidents across Ondo, Benue, and Kogi states. While 30 individuals escaped or were rescued, 62 remained untraced or feared dead.

Broader data from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) reveals that between January and August 2026, 3,083 Christians were killed and 3,193 were kidnapped. The violence, attributed largely to jihadist groups, included attacks on 400 churches and the killing or abduction of 25 priests and pastors.

Conflict is most concentrated in the Middle Belt. In Taraba State, the destruction of approximately 239 religious buildings between September 2025 and August 2026 has displaced nearly 100,000 people. Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of Makurdi has described the situation as a “calculated strategy of Islamization.”