At the White House on Wednesday, faith leaders, policymakers, and human rights advocates convened at the CPAC Faith & Freedom Summit, a prelude to tomorrow’s Ending Christian Persecution Summit at the Kennedy Center.
The gathering aimed to shine a global spotlight on the escalating genocide and persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Reports indicate that tens of thousands of Christians have been killed, abducted, or displaced over the past decade. Armed extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), alongside communal conflicts between farmers and herders, have been implicated in coordinated attacks targeting Christian communities.
Human rights organizations report that since 2009, over 52,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria, with thousands more injured or forced from their homes. Advocacy groups describe the situation as a Christian genocide, highlighting deliberate efforts to eliminate or terrorize faith communities.
Recent incidents underscore the severity of the crisis:
- June 2025: More than 200 Christians were massacred in Yelwata, Benue State. Local leaders described the attack as a “well-planned genocidal invasion.”
- September 2025: Catholic priest Mathew Eya was murdered near his parish in Enugu State, signaling that clergy are becoming direct targets of persecution.
- 2025 (Jan–July): Reports suggest over 7,000 Christians were killed nationwide in attacks motivated, in part, by religious identity.
However, critics including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz have accused Nigerian authorities of enabling or ignoring the mass murder and persecution of Christians by Islamist extremists, calling for urgent accountability and protection measures.
The U.S. government and international advocacy groups have intensified calls for action, urging humanitarian support, increased protection for vulnerable communities, and diplomatic pressure on Nigeria to stop the persecution. CPAC summit participants emphasized that the crisis is deeply intertwined with security, ethnic, and socio-economic challenges, and solutions must address both the symptoms and root causes of the Christian genocide.
Nigeria’s government rejects the term “genocide,” asserting that the violence is driven by broader security and resource conflicts rather than a campaign targeting Christians.
Tomorrow, the Ending Christian Persecution Summit at the Kennedy Center will bring global leaders together to discuss strategies for countering the genocide and persecution of Christians, providing humanitarian assistance, and ensuring international accountability.
