Silenced Screams: The Unseen Jihad Against Nigeria's Christians

In a string of horrifying incidents, Nigeria has once again been rocked by violence perpetrated by various Islamic terrorist groups and criminal gangs, leaving innocent civilians, particularly Christians, in fear and anguish.

In the latest of these atrocities, Christian Emergency Alliance reports that over 200 women and children were abducted by Boko Haram militants while they were collecting firewood in the vicinity of Gamboru Ngala, near Lake Chad. The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram, notorious for its abduction of civilians, particularly women and children, in Nigeria’s northeast region.

Nigeria: Over 200 women and children were just kidnapped by Boko Haram. The Islamic militants took them while they collected firewood in Gamboru Ngala near Lake Chad. Just yesterday, Islamists kidnapped 287 kids from their school in Kaduna. This is pure evil. pic.twitter.com/rOiBvEDrpC

— Christian Emergency Alliance (@ChristianEmerg1) March 9, 2024

In another shocking attack, 287 school children were kidnapped by Islamists from their school in Kaduna, further highlighting the vulnerability of educational institutions to extremist violence. While some of the abducted students have been returned to their parents, the fate of 275 others remains uncertain, casting a shadow of despair over their families and communities.

Nigeria: Over 280 students were kidnapped from their school in Kuriga, Kaduna, presumably by armed Jihadists. Many of those kidnapped are likely Christians. We're monitoring the situation. It is not clear if Christians were specifically targeted, but prayers and help are needed. pic.twitter.com/vT1orCsRjT

— Christian Emergency Alliance (@ChristianEmerg1) March 8, 2024

Nigeria’s controversial President, Bola Tinubu, has claimed to have directed security and intelligence agencies to expedite efforts to rescue the victims and ensure justice against the terrorists of these latest heinous acts. However, the lack of concrete action has left many questioning the effectiveness of government measures in addressing the escalating security crisis.

Parents and residents have expressed outrage and despair, attributing the abductions to a pervasive lack of security in affected areas. UNICEF and Amnesty International have condemned the attacks, calling on the government to prioritize the safety and protection of civilians, particularly children, who are increasingly becoming targets of violence.

Adding to the grim tally of violence, Fulani Islamic militants launched a deadly assault on Christians in Mbaikyor, Benue, claiming the lives of 17 individuals and injuring many others. The attack serves as a grim reminder of the persistent threat faced by Christian communities in Nigeria, particularly in regions plagued by inter-communal violence.

Similarly, in Gonin Gora, Kaduna, Fulani Islamist militants reportedly killed 20 people and abducted 14 women in another brutal assault on innocent civilians.

The Christian Emergency Alliance Nigeria has issued an urgent update, revealing that the kidnapped victims from the Kaduna attack are being trafficked to Niger State, underscoring the widespread ramifications of such atrocities.

Nigeria: UPDATE – Those kidnapped in this attack last week are reportedly being trafficked to Niger State. The Christian hostages from Kaduna are part of a sizable group moving across long distances. Many claim to have seen them. If true, they must be rescued. https://t.co/Z72oGBX9C7

— Christian Emergency Alliance (@ChristianEmerg1) March 6, 2024

The recurring pattern of kidnappings for ransom and the targeting of Christians by Muslims underscore the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms and decisive action against Islamic terrorist groups operating with impunity in Nigeria. The government’s failure to adequately address these security challenges has left communities in constant fear for their lives.

Author Raymond Ibrahim, who has continuously highlighted the abuses and murders inflicted on Christians by Muslims throughout the world, emphasized several recent attacks that Christians had to endure in January 2023. He reports,

Nigeria: A few January headlines from the ongoing jihadist-genocide of Christians in the African nation follow:

• Jan. 8: “Terrorists Slaughter 41 Christians in Kaduna State, Nigeria”
• Jan. 24: “At Least 31 Christians Slaughtered in Central Nigeria”
• Jan. 11: “Islamic Extremists Kill 15 Christians in Northeast Nigeria”
• Jan. 5: “Boko Haram Terrorists Attack Yobe Community, Kill Pastor, 13 Others; Burn Church, Houses, Cars”
• Jan. 16: “Terrorists Kill 10 Christians in Central Nigeria”
• Jan. 25: “Terrorists Kill Five Christians in Central Nigeria”
• Jan. 18: “Pastor, Three Other Christians Kidnapped in Central Nigeria”
• Jan. 9: “Christians Remain Captive in Nigeria Despite Ransom Payment”

The situation in Nigeria presents a grim reality that demands urgent attention. Raymond Ibrahim’s relentless reporting on these atrocities underscores a disturbing trend: the mainstream narrative persists in downplaying the Islamic motivations behind the violence, instead attributing it to factors such as inequality, poverty, and even climate change.

As Ibrahim meticulously highlights in his work, the observations of Christian victims and Christian organization’s on the ground in Nigeria leave little doubt about the religious nature of the conflict. Islamic fighters chanting “Allahu Akbar” and “Death to Christians” as they target innocent civilians provide unequivocal evidence of the underlying Islamic motivations driving the violence.

Moreover, Ibrahim’s critique of the Biden administration’s response to these atrocites is damning. He explains, “In 2020, Trump placed Nigeria on the State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern—that is, nations which engage in, or tolerate violations of, religious freedom. Under Biden, however, the State Department removed Nigeria—this nation where one Christian is butchered every two hours—from the list.”

In his relentless pursuit of truth, Ibrahim underscores the urgent need to confront the uncomfortable reality: an Islamic jihad of genocidal proportions has been declared on the Christian population of Nigeria. Despite this, mainstream media and Western politicians continue to overlook the Islamic motivations behind the violence, presenting Nigeria’s problems in purely economic terms. This failure to acknowledge the plight of persecuted Christians reflects a troubling disregard for human life and underscores the urgent need for global attention and intervention.