Some human rights groups are calling it the “silent slaughter” because few media outlets are covering the tragedy.
You may have heard about the persecution of Christians in China or North Korea or Sudan, but more believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world combined, according to Open Doors International.
The slaughter has been going on for some time. Since 2000, 64,000 Christians have given up their lives for the sake of the gospel. Pastor Bert Harper, who hosts Exploring Missions on AFR, says the killings are unprecedented.
“Nigeria has had more Christians killed in the last year, maybe in the last two or three years, than any other country that we know of anywhere else,” Harper says.
The martyrdom has increased in the last few years as drought in the north has forced Muslim farmers south into areas with more believers. Harper says groups like Boko Haram, ISIS and Fulani Militants are burning Christian churches and schools to the ground.
“Most of the time it is some Muslim regime. It’s not necessarily government persecution, but the government is not coming to protect them at all,” Harper says.
He says Christians around the world must be in fervent prayer for their persecuted brothers and sisters in Nigeria.
“The knowledge of them being killed really helps support those that are standing strong, that they know other believers around the world are praying for them,” Harper says.
It may seem odd, Harper says, but God has designed His church to thrive under persecution.
“Prosperity sometimes causes us to be lazy, or it causes us to take things for granted, but in persecution, every day is a new day of renewing that commitment that you have to Him as Lord.”
