Nigeria’s kidnap epidemic targets Christians – new reports

Originally published by Release International

Earlier this year, a report by UK parliamentarians heard that almost 90% of all the Christians kidnapped worldwide are abducted in Nigeria.

According to the charity Aid to the Church in Need 5 200 Christians were kidnapped in Nigeria between January 2021 and June 2022. And this year, by mid-November, 23 clergy and church workers had been abducted and several murdered.

Lagos-based research group SBMIntel put the death toll among clergy even higher. They report that 39 Catholic priests were killed in 2022. Protestants have also been targeted.

On November 17 it was reported that kidnappers killed a pastor after receiving a 1m naira *R23 000) ransom payment from his church. Morning Star News reported that the Rev David Musa, of ECWA church in Lokoja County, was killed after being held for three days. He was shot dead after the agreed ransom had been paid.

UK-based Release International has long been highlighting the growing insecurity facing Christians in Nigeria. Islamist militants, including Boko Haram, Islamic State (West Africa Province) and radicalised Fulani extremists, have been targeting Christians communities in the north and Middle Belt. Large numbers of ordinary Nigerians are being murdered or driven from their homes.

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