US Rep. John James sharply called attention to the severe persecution facing Christians in Nigeria on January 15, 2026.
He highlighted fresh data from Open Doors’ World Watch List showing that attackers murdered 3,490 Christians in Nigeria for their faith—72% of the global total of 4,849 such killings during the reporting period ending September 2025.
The Michigan lawmaker posted on X that he has raised alarms about this crisis for years.
“The facts are undeniable,” James declared.
“This is targeted, systematic persecution.
The United States and the world must not look away.”
Open Doors, a global organization that tracks and supports persecuted Christians, released its 2026 World Watch List earlier this month.
The report ranks Nigeria seventh overall for the intensity of Christian persecution, but it crowns the country as the deadliest place on earth for believers.
Militant groups—including Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and armed Fulani herder militias—drive much of the violence.
These attackers target rural Christian communities in northern and central regions with massacres, abductions, church burnings, and sexual violence against women.
The numbers reveal a stark rise. Killings of Christians in Nigeria increased by 390 from the previous reporting period.
Disproportionate targeting stands out in affected states.
For example, in Kaduna State, attackers abducted 1,116 Christians in 2025 compared to just 101 Muslims.
In Taraba State, assailants killed 73 Christians versus 12 Muslims.
This wave of violence displaces millions.
Open Doors estimates that over 16 million Christians across sub-Saharan Africa—including large numbers from Nigeria—flee their homes due to conflict and targeted threats.
Many now live in overcrowded camps with limited access to food, medical care, or security.
Advocates stress a clear religious dimension.
Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK, stated the figures leave “no doubt” about the faith-based motive.
Attackers often explicitly tell victims they aim to “destroy all Christians,” she noted.
The Nigerian government consistently rejects claims of systematic religious targeting.
Officials describe much of the violence as stemming from land disputes between farmers and herders, banditry, or criminal activity that affects Muslims and Christians alike.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has denied any religious genocide and emphasized equal victimization across faiths.
However, international pressure mounts.
US lawmakers, including James, push for stronger responses.
Some advocate redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern under US religious freedom laws.
Others point to recent US military actions against militants in the region as steps toward protection.
Open Doors and partners provide emergency aid, trauma counseling, and discipleship support to affected Nigerian communities.
They urge global prayer and advocacy to secure justice and safety for vulnerable believers.
As the crisis deepens, survivors and advocates demand urgent intervention.
Without decisive protection, experts warn that 2026 could see even higher martyrdom rates in Africa’s most populous nation.
