Nigeria is becoming a “mass grave” for Christians

“Nigeria is turning into a mass grave.” That’s the message I recently received from our iReach Global team leader in Nigeria, a place where our ministry has supported persecuted believers, trained leaders, and helped hard-pressed families rebuild after trauma.

Now, a fresh wave of violence against Christians by Islamic Fulani Militants is tearing through the region. As his heartbreaking message continued:

“A few days after more than 50 people were buried following an attack, nearly 30 more were laid to rest today. These attacks are happening more frequently. It’s only a matter of time before the killings reach the city centers.”

Has the US ignored Nigerian Christians?

These are not isolated events. According to Global Christian Relief and other human rights monitors, Nigeria remains the deadliest place in the world for Christians. In 2024 alone, more than 4,100 Christians were killed for their faith—82 percent of all Christian martyrdoms worldwide.

And yet the U.S. State Department no longer lists Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC)—a designation reserved for nations that commit or tolerate particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

This CPC status was applied to Nigeria in 2020 in response to the relentless violence. But in 2021, that designation was quietly dropped, despite growing atrocities by Boko Haram, Fulani militants, and other extremists.

Removing that designation sends the wrong message. It signals to Nigerian officials that the world isn’t watching. That the killing can continue without consequence.

Meanwhile, the horror on the ground grows. One elderly woman named Mary told our team: “They entered my son’s room, killed him and his two sons, and cut off his wife’s hand.”

Another woman, Lami, said: “We were asleep when they forced the door in, came in, and killed my husband and my two grandchildren.”

I’ve seen the video footage of the violence and the mass graves. And I can’t unsee it.

So I’m asking you—not just to pay attention, but to act.

How to help

Please, pray for Nigeria. For the grieving, the displaced, the broken, and the brave. Pray for those standing strong in the face of terror. And pray for the U.S. to do what’s right: to once again designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and send a clear message that this kind of persecution cannot be ignored.

Because this isn’t just about geopolitics or foreign policy. It’s about our brothers and sisters in Christ.

As the apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:26, “If one member suffers, all suffer together.”

Let’s suffer with them. Let’s pray for them. Let’s stand together in hope and action—until the light of Jesus breaks through even the deepest darkness.

Clint Lyons is co-founder and executive director of iReach Global, a Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering persecuted Christians.