Edo State, Nigeria & Al Jazirah, Sudan –
Protesters in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are rallying in defiance of escalating violence against Christians, while in Sudan, hidden worship services underscore a broader crisis of religious persecution. In Edo State, thousands took to the streets at Jattu junction in Auchi, as demonstrators chanted, “We are not afraid. We are not going to walk away from our land. We will stay here. They cannot terrify us into abandoning our land.” The protest emerged in response to the killing of Christians, including priests and reverend sisters, and the government’s inaction on mob violence and targeted attacks.
Local reports revealed that demonstrators carried placards demanding safe access to churches, an end to the violence against religious leaders, and an end to ransom payments for abducted clergy. “We can no longer go to our farms because of insecurity,” one protester declared, while another cried out, “We are crying to the world to help us.” The protest follows a day of mourning on March 26, commemorating Christian farmers, market women, and clergy killed in recent years – including Fr. Christopher Odia, kidnapped and murdered in June 2022, and seminarian Peter Andrew, whose burial marked a somber reminder of the ongoing crisis.
According to the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, 145 priests have been kidnapped over the past decade, with 11 murders recorded. A report by Aid to the Church in Need noted that in early 2025, over 80 percent of global cases of unjust arrest or violence against Catholic clergy occurred in Nigeria. Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi condemned the “Islamist extermination” of Christians, stressing that law enforcement has repeatedly failed to protect vulnerable communities, as evidenced by mass attacks in Plateau and Benue states.
Across the border in Sudan, Christian communities in the Al Jazirah state are forced to conduct clandestine worship services after a brutal assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Sudanese Church of Christ on December 30, 2024. One local Christian, speaking anonymously, recounted, “The soldiers destroyed our church and vowed to eliminate all Christians. They warned us against gathering for worship, so we have been doing it in secret to prevent their agents from reporting us.” With rival military factions openly threatening Christian lives, and with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urging greater intervention, both Nigeria and Sudan remain at the forefront of international calls to uphold religious freedom.
As calls for accountability and protective reforms grow louder, religious and civil society leaders across both nations stress the need for inclusive governance and the safeguarding of religious rights. The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association has also urged Nigerians to embrace unity, tolerance, and peace, reminding the nation that its strength lies in its diversity.
About The Author
Discover more from Faith & Freedom News - FFN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
