The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has released figures detailing the scale of attacks on Christians and churches across Nigeria, describing the violence as an ongoing genocide. The data reports tens of thousands of deaths, hundreds of cleric abductions, and thousands of churches destroyed over the past 16 years.
Speaking at a press briefing in Jos, Plateau State, ECWA General Secretary, Dr. Ayuba Asheshe, said ECWA’s records show a devastating impact on Christian communities, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions.
According to Asheshe, 19,100 churches have been burned or destroyed, averaging about 1,200 per year — roughly three per day. More than 600 clerics, including pastors and Catholic priests, have been abducted, with many still missing. Between 2009 and 2023, an estimated 52,000 Christians were killed, 18,500 abducted, and over 20,000 churches and Christian communities attacked nationwide.
Between 2009 and 2023, Asheshe said an estimated 52,000 Christians were killed, 18,500 abducted, and more than 20,000 churches and Christian communities attacked nationwide.
Asheshe also cited international monitoring groups, noting that Open Doors USA reported that Nigerians accounted for 82% of Christians killed globally between October 2022 and September 2023. Additionally, he mentioned that more than 3.5 million Christians have been displaced, with their homes and places of worship destroyed.
Referencing data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), Asheshe noted that estimates suggest over 100,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria over the past two decades. Within ECWA alone, he said 208 members were abducted between 2023 and 2024, with several reportedly dying in captivity.
While criticizing what he described as years of insufficient response, Asheshe acknowledged recent steps by the Nigerian government to strengthen national security and intensify coordinated operations against armed groups.
He said the church welcomed increased intelligence-driven operations, stronger inter-agency cooperation, expanded security presence in rural areas, and efforts aimed at facilitating the return of displaced persons.
Broader Regional Security Implications
The violence against Christian communities in Nigeria cannot be viewed in isolation. The attacks are part of broader regional security challenges affecting the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, areas that have witnessed a rise in militant activity in recent years. The ongoing instability in Nigeria, due to the proliferation of armed groups, echoes the growing security concerns across West and Central Africa, where cross-border criminal networks and extremist groups operate with increasing frequency.
Given Nigeria’s geopolitical significance in West Africa, the prolonged instability has the potential to spill over into neighboring countries, heightening insecurity across the entire region. The Lake Chad Basin—comprising parts of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger—is particularly vulnerable, as militant groups in these areas often move freely across borders, further exacerbating regional instability.
Asheshe urged authorities to maintain the momentum of recent efforts, ensuring that accountability for those financing or enabling attacks is a priority. He warned that failure to address the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria could have far-reaching implications for the stability of the region as a whole.
