The report was released by The Anambra-based International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), led by Christian criminologist Emeka Umeagbalasi. It also estimated “no fewer than 7,800 others were violently seized and abducted for being Christians.”

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs USA)

Christian Faith Ministries serves in Benue, a state in North Central Nigeria. In early July, four of their members were tragically killed in an attack.

Ruth Hodge, who co-founded Christian Faith Ministries with her husband Kent, discussed the persecution facing Nigerian believers in a podcast interview with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s Greg Musselman.

Ruth explains that many Christian villagers in Northern Nigeria have fled their homes and sought refuge in an old IDP (internally displaced people) camp. “That camp is occupied…but there’s no aid going there. Mostly, the men are staying in the villages to protect them, to try to drive out the Fulani when they attack, and to try to continue farming.”

Benue State is known as the food basket of Nigeria. “It’s the most fertile state of the whole nation,” says Ruth. “A lot of food is produced in Benue every year.”

However, violence and instability have devastated food production. “At the moment, nothing is coming out of Benue State. Very little food is coming out. The roads aren’t safe. People are being kidnapped on the roads. Trucks — if they’re going out with the produce — they’re looted, they’re stolen. The Fulani are well armed, full of ammunition, and the military is doing very little.”

(Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs USA)

Even in the face of persecution, Nigerian Christians long for their attackers to hear the Gospel — that even those who kill them might find salvation in Jesus Christ.

The provost of Christian Faith Ministries’ Bible school is ethnically Fulani, and Ruth notes, “We have about 50 Fulani students in our Bible school — that’s the ones I can think of immediately.”

These Fulani believers are reaching their own people with the Good News of Jesus.

Please pray with them for Fulani Muslims to turn from violence to the forgiveness and joy of Christ. Ask God to give persecuted believers in Northern Nigeria wisdom and protection as they care for their villages and families. Pray for the Church to be a bold witness of faith in the fire.

Header photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada.

“You see so much despair, so much pain. But, on the other hand, you see how God is working through the ministries helping the Persecuted Church,” Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada explains.

VOM Canada partners with Christian Faith Ministries in northern Nigeria. What began as a small Bible college 15 years ago has doubled in size and scope to meet the growing needs of persecuted Christians.

(Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)

“In the north, thousands of Christians are killed every year; you’ve got people that have been injured. A hospital’s been started on the compound because of all the medical needs,” Musselman says.

“There’s vocational training, elementary school, a trauma center; a reconciliation [ministry] between Christians and Muslims.”

Find practical ways to help persecuted Nigerian Christians through VOM Canada. Pray lives and hearts will change as believers demonstrate Christ’s love and forgiveness.

“Fulani herdsmen have been causing all sorts of problems; [they’re a] very violent group,” Musselman says.

“Christian Faith Ministries has been able to build bridges and practically help the Fulani people – water their cattle, train their children in the school, [etc.] That has led to a lot of openness between the Christians and the Muslims,” he continues.

“When there’s a spark that could lead to violence against the followers of Jesus, the leaders within [the] Muslim community say, ‘No, these are our friends.’”

In the header image, a persecuted Christian learns how to sew so she can be self-supporting. (Photo, caption courtesy of VOM Canada)