Nigeria witnessed its most devastating year of Islamist attacks against Christians in 2023, resulting in the loss of over 8,000 lives, according to reports.
The report was released on Ash Wednesday by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety).
It provides chilling accounts of widespread violence, kidnappings, and forced disappearances, primarily targeting Christian communities across various regions of Nigeria.
According to the report, the violence was carried out by different factions, including:
Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, responsible for approximately 5,100 Christian deaths.
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It stated that Boko Haram and affiliated groups, caused about 500 deaths.
The Jihadist Fulani Bandits, contributed to 1,600 deaths, while the “Islamic-inspired” security forces, 1,000 Christian deaths.
It stressed that the 13-month period from January 2023 to January 2024 is the deadliest in recent years, underscoring the failure of the Nigerian government and security forces to effectively address and curb the escalating violence.
The report asserts that since 2009, Nigeria has become the second deadliest country globally for religiously motivated civilian deaths, with over 150,000 lives lost.
Among the victims, approximately 100,000 were Christians, 46,000 were moderate Muslims, while 4,000 belonged to other religious groups.
The report also disclosed that the destruction of tens of thousands of homes.
Over 18,500 Christian places of worship were affected, 1,000 religious shrines damaged, and 2,500 Christian/Traditional education centers impacted.
Furthermore, it revealed the displacement and expulsion of inhabitants from over 59,000 square kilometers of land.
Emeka Umeagbalasi, Director of Intersociety, stressed the complicity of the Nigerian government, including both the previous Buhari administration and the current Tinubu government, along with the security forces, in the ongoing violence against Christians.
He said:
“This government is not different from the Buhari government.
“The most shocking of it all is that the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen operate freely and unchallenged with impunity and reckless abandon; with the Nigerian Security Forces (NSFs), widely accused of being ‘Islamic-inspired,’ turning blind eyes or looking the other side; except when it comes to protection of Fulani cows and their herders; or arresting members of the victim communities and their leaders; labeling them ‘bandits’.”
