At least seven Christians, including five children, were killed when armed Fulani herdsmen attacked a village in Kaduna state, Nigeria, on 24 August. Local residents reported that the assault on Angwan Rimi village, Kauru County, left eight others injured with gunshot and machete wounds.
Those killed included a one-year-old infant, as well as children aged between five and 15. Community leaders have appealed for stronger security measures to protect Christian communities in the region.
In a separate incident, on 28 August, unknown gunmen kidnapped Rev James Audu Issa, a pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), in Patigi County, Kwara state. Church members have called for urgent prayers for his safety and release.
Nigeria has faced ongoing violence against Christians for many years. A 2020 UK parliamentary report noted that while most Fulani people are not extremists, some groups have adopted radical Islamist ideology similar to Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). Attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are often linked to land disputes and efforts to impose Islam, Christian leaders say.
According to the 2025 World Watch List by Open Doors, Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous countries for Christians. Of 4,476 Christians killed worldwide for their faith in the reporting year, 3,100 were in Nigeria. The report highlighted widespread killings, kidnappings, and attacks on churches, especially in the country’s north and central regions, while violence has also spread further south.
In a separate case in southern Nigeria’s Cross River state, a young evangelist was shot dead by police on 1 August. Moses Mba, aged 22, had reportedly gone to preach at the residence of the state governor. Relatives said he was denied entry, beaten, and later shot by officers. He died from his injuries on 9 August. Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is under way.
Nigeria ranked seventh on the 2025 World Watch List of the 50 most dangerous countries for Christians.
Adapted from Christian Daily International - Morning Star News.
