By Jannamike Luminous
Nigeria, a country that has not yet been designated as a “country of particular concern” by the US State Department, has been ranked among the worst persecutors of Christians in the International Christian Concern (ICC) 2023 report.
The report paints an alarming picture of the dangers facing Christians in the country, saying Nigeria could be the most perilous place in the world for Christians.
“Nigeria is arguably the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian today,” the report said.
The ICC report details 55 attacks in Nigeria resulting in the deaths of 549 Christians over four months, from March to July.
He also highlighted the burning of a Catholic seminary and the killing of a seminarian in Kaduna State, as well as the massacre of more than 20 people in a village in Plateau State by radical militants in August .
A significant portion of the persecution is attributed to terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, responsible for more than 38,000 deaths over the past 12 years, and the application of sharia law in 12 northern states.
“Whether or not the world recognizes the plight of Nigerian Christians, the country has become a burial ground for Christians,” the report states.
Besides Nigeria, the ICC report also names nine other countries as being oppressive towards Christians. These include North Korea, India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Eritrea, Algeria, Indonesia and Azerbaijan.
The report identifies patterns of religious repression, forced labor, violence and harsh legal restrictions in these countries.
The ICC report also identified six entities, including the Allied Democratic Forces and Al-Shabab, among the worst oppressors of religious freedom and minorities.
Additionally, five individual actors, including North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and China’s Xi Jinping, have been named among the world’s worst persecutors.
However, despite the difficult conditions described in the report, Nigeria has not been designated by the US Department of State as a “country of particular concern.”
The report highlights the need for international attention and action to combat the widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria and other listed countries.
“Nigeria is a country torn apart by violence. From large, organized terrorist groups to small, disconnected community militias, violence in Nigeria is endemic,” the report concludes.
