In 2024, more than 3,100 Christians were killed in Nigeria, underscoring the grave risks faced by followers of Christ in one of the world’s most dangerous countries for Christians. Among those who continue to serve with unwavering courage is Fr. Clément Chimaobi Emefu, a Spiritan priest and professor of Canon Law at the Spiritan International School of Theology (SIST) in Attakwu, Enugu State. Fr. Emefu remains committed to his mission, declaring that threats of death only deepen the resolve of the faithful.
Enugu State, located in southeastern Nigeria, is a predominantly Christian area, unlike the northern regions more commonly associated with jihadist violence from groups such as Boko Haram. Nevertheless, Fr. Emefu warns that the dangers are no longer confined to the north. He believes that Christians across Nigeria are increasingly targeted by what he describes as a coordinated and ongoing campaign to Islamize the country, carried out through both violent attacks and institutional neglect.
One of the most alarming developments in recent years is the surge in kidnappings. Over the past decade, more than 200 priests and religious have been abducted in Nigeria. The start of 2025 has already witnessed a spike in such incidents, with around a dozen cases reported, two of which ended in the deaths of the victims. Priests and religious, who often travel alone to serve schools, hospitals, or remote communities, are particularly at risk. Fr. Emefu, who also serves as a Canonist for the Southeastern Spiritan Province, frequently drives long distances on insecure roads to reach his office in Onitsha.
Among the recent kidnapping cases is that of Spiritan priest Fr. Gerald Ohaeri, who was abducted on November 30, 2024, by Fulani kidnappers, a nomadic Muslim group also known as Peuls. While the Catholic Church officially does not pay ransoms, Fr. Emefu acknowledges the difficult reality faced by those involved: the threat to a fellow priest’s life often makes it hard to stand by that policy. He warns, however, that yielding to ransom demands could encourage more abductions of clergy and religious. The situation becomes even more complex when families, desperate to save their loved ones, push to make payments privately.
The violence against Christians in southeastern Nigeria is not limited to kidnappings. Fr. Emefu points to the growing presence of armed herders, primarily Muslim nomads from the north, who now appear frequently in the region. These groups often invade farmland, pushing Christian landowners off their property and contributing to a slow but steady displacement. While such incidents may not be officially labeled as terrorism, Fr. Emefu describes them as a silent form of persecution that is steadily worsening.
Speaking out against these injustices comes with its own risks. Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi recently learned he could face arrest upon returning to Nigeria after testifying before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa. During his testimony, the bishop called on the United States to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to ongoing religious persecution. The priests of his diocese publicly supported him, denouncing any threats against him and affirming his testimony as a necessary defense of human dignity.
Despite these dangers, Fr. Emefu remains firm in his calling. He continues to teach and minister to around 200 students—both seminarians and lay people—at SIST, offering his life as a sign of hope and a model of courage. He believes that the suffering endured by Christians is not in vain but a source of spiritual strength.
"Those who threaten us, those who terrorise us, those who make us vulnerable—this is the source of the strengthening of our faith," he says. In the face of fear and danger, Fr. Emefu and many like him continue to stand as beacons of hope, resilience, and unwavering faith.