THE GROWTH OF ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE: IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA

This article relates to anti Christian violence and its implications. 

Persecution has become inevitable challenge for Christians all over the world. For no just cause, Christians are continually assailed and slaughtered whether in or outside their places go worship on daily basis. It is obvious that anti-christian violence notably started with the early Christians shortly after the resurrection  and ascension of Christ. However, it is apposite to underscore that the persecution of those who stood for God dated back to the Old Testament (see for instance, Daniel 3: 1-23, 6:3-17). The rate at which the perfection of Christians is growing is alarming and has become a subject of concern. According to a report published in 2018 by the US based Open Doors Researchers, approximately 215 million Christians now experience high, very high, or extreme levels of persecution, which means that one one every twelve Christians lives where Christianity is illegal, forbidden, or punished. Also, a United Nations’ Report shows that in India, there is little or no court conviction for religious criminals who see to the conversion of Christians to other faiths through the application of force, inducement or fraud. Just recently, in Sri Lanka, on 21st April 2019 (Easter Sunday), three churches were attacked in a series of coordinated terrorist suicide bombings which claimed the lives of over 300 Christian worshippers.

Nigeria boasts of a large number Christians and this makes it a target of anti-christian violence. A report published in 2016 showed that the killing of Christians in Nigeria has increased by 62%. In 2015 alone, there were 4,028 killings and 198 church attacks. The persecution of Christians in Nigeria traces to boko haram, Fulani herdsmen, and Muslim religious and political elites. Notable anti-christian attacks in Nigeria include the beheading of Mrs. Eunice Olawale in 2016 while she was preaching the gospel in Kubwa, Abuja, the notorious abduction of innocent christian school girls and the detention of Leah Sharibu, to mention but a few.