Abuja: A new report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has revealed a sharp rise in targeted attacks against Christian communities across several Nigerian states. The group says that between October 28 and November 11, at least 101 Christians were killed and 114 others were kidnapped in a series of raids carried out by armed groups.
According to the report, the worst-hit areas were the states of Taraba, Plateau, Kaduna and Benue, which have long struggled with clashes involving militant herders, extremist groups and criminal gangs. Taraba recorded the highest number of fatalities with 34 deaths, followed by Plateau with 22, Kaduna with 16 and Benue with 15. Four people were killed in Borno and one in Edo during the same period.
The rights group also reported that six churches were attacked and ransacked, leaving worshippers displaced and communities in fear. Clergy members were among those killed and abducted, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of religious leaders in remote regions.
In Kaduna state, around 50 Christians were reportedly kidnapped within the two-week window. Taraba saw about 30 abductions, while the Kogi and Kwara border areas recorded at least 12 cases. The group warned that the actual number of kidnappings may be higher due to unreported incidents in hard-to-reach villages.
Intersociety linked many of the attacks to heavily armed militant herder groups and extremist factions that have been active for years in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. The organisation said the violence appeared to be coordinated and described the scale of killings as “dangerously alarming.”
Local residents say the attacks often take place at night, with armed men storming farming settlements, burning homes and seizing hostages. Communities in the affected states say they feel abandoned as security forces struggle to contain the escalating violence.
The Nigerian government, however, maintains that the crisis affects people of all faiths and ethnic groups, arguing that the conflict is driven by a mix of land disputes, criminal activity and long-standing regional tensions. Officials insist that the situation should not be viewed solely as religious persecution.
Despite this, human-rights monitors and international observers say Christian communities remain among the most targeted groups in northern and central Nigeria. Displacement continues to rise as families flee their homes, churches shut down in high-risk areas and local economies collapse under the pressure of insecurity.
The two-week surge is part of a broader pattern of violence that has gripped Nigeria in recent years. Rights groups warn that without stronger security measures, community protection programs and conflict-resolution efforts, such attacks are likely to continue.