52,000 Christians Murdered in Nigeria—Why Is the World Silent?

52,000 Christians have been martyred in Nigeria, why is no one talking about this?!

Fifty-two thousand.
That’s how many Christians have been killed in Nigeria for their faith in Jesus over the past twenty years. It’s a number almost too large to comprehend—entire cities’ worth of lives, gone. Fathers shot in front of their children. Mothers dragged from their homes. Children kidnapped in the middle of the night. Entire villages burned to the ground.

And yet… silence.
World leaders look away. News headlines barely mention it. Even much of the global Church doesn’t realize the scale of what’s happening. While our social feeds are full of trending topics and distractions, a hidden genocide is unfolding against our brothers and sisters in Christ.

But for the Christians of Nigeria, this isn’t an abstract statistic. It is their everyday reality. They risk death just to gather for worship, to pray together, or to own a single copy of the Bible. Their faith costs them everything—and their courage demands our attention.

Think of an entire city the size of Flagstaff, Arizona or Jefferson City, Missouri—wiped out. That is the scale of loss the Nigerian Church has endured. And the tragedy is ongoing, week after week.

The hidden genocide

Nigeria is the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian today. Extremist groups such as Boko Haram and radicalized Fulani militias sweep through villages in the dead of night, torching homes, killing indiscriminately, and kidnapping women and children.

Entire congregations have been gunned down during Sunday worship services. Families have been driven from their farms and left without food or shelter. Many survivors live in displacement camps, stripped of everything they once had.

This is not an isolated wave of violence. It is a systematic, targeted persecution—a “slow-motion genocide” that watchdog groups have warned about for years. Yet the world’s media barely mentions it. Governments offer little protection. And the global Church, for the most part, has not sounded the alarm.

Faith under fire

The cost of following Jesus in Nigeria is often death. One pastor was asked by militants to deny Christ or be killed. He answered with words echoing the book of Acts: “I cannot deny my Savior.” He was shot in front of his congregation.

Another young girl was kidnapped by extremists and pressured to convert to Islam. She refused, saying, “I am a Christian, and I will remain a Christian.” Her bravery has inspired countless believers across Nigeria.

Stories like these are not rare—they are the heartbeat of the Nigerian Church. While the world ignores them, heaven takes note. These brothers and sisters are counted among the faithful witnesses, standing in the long line of martyrs who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.

Our biblical responsibility

Scripture commands us:
“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3).

When one part of the Body suffers, the whole Body suffers. To turn away from Nigeria’s persecuted Christians is to turn away from our own family in Christ. Their tears are our tears. Their endurance is our encouragement. Their cries should stir us to action.

How we can help right now

You may feel far from Nigeria, but you can place a weapon of hope in the hands of persecuted believers: the Word of God.

Global Christian Relief, one of the most trusted ministries on the frontlines, is working inside Nigeria and across the globe to strengthen persecuted Christians. They provide food, shelter, safety, and discipleship resources. Most importantly, they are putting Bibles into the hands of those who have none.

Here is the incredible reality: for just $5, you can give a Bible to a persecuted Christian.

Think about it. The same Bible that has comforted you in the darkest nights, the same Word that has guided you through trials, is what Nigerian believers are begging for. Some entire congregations share one worn-out copy, passing it hand to hand, memorizing pages before giving it to another. Imagine the joy of a Christian refugee receiving their very own Bible for the first time, knowing it was sent through your generosity.

The time to act is now

While the world stays silent, we cannot. The Nigerian Church is showing us what costly discipleship looks like. We owe them our prayers, our voices, and our tangible support.

Imagine walking into a hidden prayer gathering in Nigeria: a group of survivors huddled in a dimly lit room, whispering worship songs, hands raised, clutching a Bible that was smuggled to them. That scene is real—and it can become reality for more believers if we act today.

👉 Donate $5 or more to Global Christian Relief today. Every $5 places a Bible into the hands of a persecuted Christian in Nigeria and beyond.

Let us not be the silent Church. Let us be the faithful Church. Together, we can strengthen the persecuted, equip them with God’s Word, and ensure they know they are not forgotten.

The first 100 people to donate will receive a copy of my devotional book, “He Is / I Am.” Just email [email protected] to claim, and include a screenshot of your donation receipt.