Persecution of Christians in Nigeria: near the end of this article, it notes that “the persecution of Christians is rapidly increasing across Nigeria — but these massacres rarely make the news.”
That is true and has been true for quite some time. The situation of Christians in Nigeria remains a human rights catastrophe of immense proportions, and yet it has not registered in any significant way with the international organizations that are supposedly dedicated to protecting human rights.
The Order once again urgently implores the United Nations and the governments of all nations that are committed to human rights and religious freedom to make the plight of Nigeria’s Christians a top priority. They are walking the way of the Cross. May our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ also bless the Orthodox Christians and all Christians of Nigeria with a new flourishing of their communities.
For previous coverage of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria at ChristianPersecution.com, see here.
“Pregnant woman witnesses Boko Haram burn, massacre family, neighbors,” by Kelsey Campbell, Christian Post, November 2, 2019:
The massacre lasted for five hours.
Esther listened from the makeshift outhouse as she hid behind the door. “Convert or be killed!” shouted Boko Haram militants. Their commands were followed by screams, the popping of machine guns, and the smell of burning flesh and hair as they made their way through the village.
Esther, whose name I’ve changed for her safety, tried to slow her breathing, but the foul stench only made her panic rise. She’d told her children to stay put and be silent, but now she wasn’t so sure if she’d be able to sit still and wait.
She had hidden her children in their village’s graveyard, covering them with grass and leaves so the rebels wouldn’t discover them. Esther had not seen her husband since they all fled. She’d hidden in her family’s latrine, prepared to climb inside the toilet if it came to that.
As she peered wide-eyed through the slight crack in the door, she slowly caressed her growing stomach, wondering what kind of life her unborn child would have. She didn’t know if any of her family would live through this day.
Her breath caught in her chest as two men with guns approached her house. She’d already watched as they’d burned down her neighbors’ homes and their local church. The smoke still smeared the sky. Those who hadn’t been shot in their homes died in the fires.
The men spoke to one another, arguing. Slowly they pointed to the next house and walked toward it. They shot everyone inside, then burned the house down….
Every day, Christians in places like Nigeria are being killed for not converting to Islam. Churches are being burned to the ground. And pastors are being hunted down and executed….
The persecution of Christians is rapidly increasing across Nigeria — but these massacres rarely make the news….
