A civil society watchdog has reported that more than 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria so far in 2025, warning of an escalating humanitarian crisis.
More than 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the first 220 days of 2025, according to the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety).
The group said 7,087 Christians have died and 7,800 others have been abducted between January and August, averaging 35 killings per day. Benue State was among the hardest hit, including the June Yelewata massacre that claimed 280 lives.
“Nigeria is headquartering and providing safe haven for no fewer than 22 Islamic terror groups with links to ISIS and ISIL,” the report stated.
Nigeria has long been a global hotspot for Christian persecution, with more believers killed there than anywhere else, according to Open Doors.
The violence has displaced over 12 million Christians since 2009, when Boko Haram began its insurgency.
Jeff King of International Christian Concern said, “The persecution of Christians isn’t merely a religious issue, it’s a human rights crisis affecting millions.”