ICC Note: Hundreds of Christians in Nigeria suffer constant persecution by Islamic radicals like Boko Haram, Fulani fighters, and even the marginalization of the government. The Islamic government usually favors Muslims with their state policies; thus, many of the attacks against Christians end up being ignored and unpunished. Furthermore, Christians are not only deprived from their lives, but also their livelihoods.  

10/28/2016, Nigeria (Pakistan Christian Post) – The Nigerian Middle Belt is the scene of ever-continuing attacks on Christian farmers by mainly Muslim Hausa-Fulani herdsmen, including this past week where attacks have occurred in both Kaduna and Benue States. Now a recent report about another state in the Middle Belt, Nasarawa, shows that it too has been the scene of serious violence against Christians. In the period January 2013 – May 2016, 826 Christians were killed and 878 injured. There were 102 churches destroyed or damaged.

Beside these, 787 houses were destroyed, as well as 9 shops, 32 cars and motorcycles. Many families were completely deprived of their livelihoods. Around 21,000 Christians were reported as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in different camps inside and outside Nasarawa State. Due to the difficult security situation, the authors of the in-depth fact-finding report are convinced that they were only able to report part of what really happened.

Their Nigeria Conflict and Security Analysis Network (NSCAN) report shows that Nasarawa State has been engulfed in various forms of conflict since its creation in 1996. Many researchers, policy makers and government officials have explained the conflict in terms of politics, ethnicity and economic contestation over land and resources. In most cases, the religious component of the conflict has been completely downplayed, marginalized, excluded or neglected.

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