by Obianuju Mbah, Christian Today
A new report from International Christian Concern (ICC) has revealed a disturbing rise in violence against Christians across parts of Africa, with Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Kenya experiencing a surge in attacks, abductions, massacres and forced displacements.
The report, titled “Troubling Trends: Escalating Persecution of Christians in Africa,” was written by Linda Burkle and focuses on the first four months of 2025, while also tracing violent trends within the past two decades.
Nigeria continues to be the deadliest country in the world for Christians. The West African nation ranks seventh on the 2025 World Watch List by Open Doors, which tracks persecution globally.
The ICC reports notes that between July 2009 and March 2022, more than 45,000 Christians were murdered by extremist groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militants.
In 2022 alone, around 5,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria – more than in the rest of the world combined.
From 2015 to 2020, an estimated 11,000 to 12,000 Christians were murdered by Islamist militants, and over 2,000 churches were demolished. In 2021, some 3,800 Christians were abducted.
Regardless of the political change following President Bola Tinubu’s rise to power in 2023, the violence has continued, with 7,000 deaths estimated in 2023 alone.