Nigeria’s Christian Persecution Crisis

Support the ShowSummarized Transcript: Good morning, everyone. It is October 2, 2025. Today I’m going to focus on what’s going in Nigeria, and I’d like to lift those Christians up in prayer. So here’s a rundown of what’s been going on:1. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is a hotspot for religious hostility, with more Christians killed for their faith by Islamic extremists in its northern and central regions over the past decade than in the entire Middle East. The violence targets Christian communities amid ongoing religious and ethnic tensions. The country’s volatile environment continues to challenge peace and security efforts.2. Father Mathew Eya, a Nigerian priest, was killed on September 19, 2025, while returning to his parish of St. Charles, adding to the grief of a church already suffering from frequent clergy kidnappings. His death highlights the persistent dangers faced by Christian leaders in Nigeria. The incident has deepened the community’s mourning and calls for protection.3. In June 2025, attackers armed with rifles, machetes, and fuel killed at least 160 people in Yelwata, a Christian farming village in Nigeria’s Benue state. The assault, one of the deadliest recently, targeted sleeping families in the Middle Belt, a region plagued by farmer-herder conflicts. Suspects are primarily Fulani Muslim herders or bandits, fueling global outrage. The attack underscores Nigeria’s escalating land and religious disputes.4. We also need to consider Boko Haram’s insurgency, which launched in July 2009, and continues to fuel religious violence in Nigeria, aiming to establish an Islamic state. The group’s rebellion exploits tensions between Muslim and Christian communities, particularly in the north. The conflict has caused widespread devastation, with ongoing clashes disrupting lives and communities.5. On September 5, this year, Boko Haram jihadists killed 63 people, including seven soldiers, in attacks in Darul Jamal, Borno State, Nigeria, with others reported missing. The assault reflects the group’s ongoing campaign of violence against both civilians and security forces. The incident has intensified calls for stronger measures to counter the insurgency.So let’s pray…Thank you for listening to News on Knees, a community prayer podcast by Story King Media. If you want to join the movement, I’m calling all believers, anyone who wants to pray for the world, their country, their region, a specific societal issue. Using something as simple as the voice memo app on your phone, record a 1–2 minute prayer and email it to: [email protected], Simply write the word ‘PRAYER’ in the subject line of the email. NOTE - Two Rules for Submitted Prayers:Please Keep Obvious Political Bias OutNo Personal Requests. Prayers should be about societal issues that are either global, country, state, or region-specific.And if this show blesses you, if you believe in the work we’re doing, would you consider supporting News on Knees on Patreon? Just a few dollars a month will keep it going and growing, so we can continue flooding the world with prayer instead of panic.All instructions, links, and news sources will be in the show notes.I leave you with:Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”Until next time…Sources: Nigerian Priest KilledGenocide of Christians in Sub Saharan AfricaHerders vs Farmers Crisis of ViolenceBoko Haram Insurgency