When I saw the headline quoting President Trump warning that the United States might go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if Christians keep being slaughtered, I immediately thought of the Nigeria Christian genocide that has been ignored for far too long. Whatever a person thinks of him, that kind of language forced the world to look at something it keeps ignoring—the slaughter of believers in Nigeria.
It’s not the first time he has spoken out about the persecution of Christians. During his previous term, the U.S. formally labeled Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for severe religious-freedom violations, hosted summits on persecuted believers, and met with survivors of anti-Christian violence from around the world. Those moments, while political in setting, were about something deeper: the protection of people made in God’s image who are being hunted for their faith.
When I read those headlines, my thoughts went straight to Scripture. This isn’t about politics for me. It’s about finally hearing public acknowledgment of a tragedy the Church has long warned about.
More than 50,000 believers have been killed in Nigeria since 2009. The Nigeria Christian genocide is real, and Scripture calls us to see, pray, and act when God’s people are targeted for their faith.
For years I’ve watched reports of entire villages burned, pastors executed, and families driven from their homes simply because they bear the name of Christ. The Holy Spirit keeps pressing this truth on my heart: what’s happening in Nigeria isn’t random violence—it’s genocide against God’s people.
The Hidden War Few Will Name
Mainstream outlets rarely headline the slaughter because it doesn’t fit the narrative of modern persecution. Yet according to Open Doors, more than 5,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the last year alone, and more than 50,000 since 2009.
Most of these murders are carried out by Islamist extremist groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State – West Africa Province, and radicalized Fulani militants. They raid Christian villages, torch churches, and demand conversion to Islam at gunpoint.
Still, the story barely reaches the front pages. If these numbers belonged to any other faith group, the world would call it what it is. CBN News recently highlighted the issue after Trump’s remarks, but most major outlets stayed silent.
Why the Nigeria Christian Genocide Fits the Bible’s Pattern
The word “genocide” may be modern, but the pattern is ancient. Scripture records repeated attempts to erase God’s people from the earth:
— Exodus 1: Pharaoh ordered every Hebrew boy killed to stop Israel’s growth.
— Esther 3: Haman plotted to “destroy, kill, and annihilate” the Jews.
— Psalm 94:21: “They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.”
— John 15:18-20: Jesus warned, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
— Revelation 6:9-11: The souls of martyrs cry out, “How long, O Lord, until You avenge our blood?”
Each passage describes more than suffering. It is targeted elimination of God’s people for their faith. By that standard, the killing of Christians in Nigeria is biblically genocidal. The motive is spiritual hatred of Christ and those who follow Him. This is why we must never compromise truth to fit culture’s comfort. As I explained in Biblical Truth vs. Cultural Relativism, believers are called to stand firm on what God defines as right and wrong.
Seeing It as God Sees It
God’s Word never ignores innocent blood.
— Genesis 4:10: “Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.”
— Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.”
— Romans 12:19: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
The Lord hears every cry from believers hiding in the forests of Plateau or Benue State. He remembers their names, and He will judge the nations that look away.
When I read those verses, I can’t stay silent. Silence implies consent. The Church’s indifference becomes a second wound to those already bleeding for their faith.
How Christians Should Respond
I believe our response must be spiritual before it’s political.
— Pray intentionally. Lift up Nigeria’s believers by name. Ask God to strengthen their faith and expose the darkness that fuels this violence.
— Speak truthfully. Call the Nigeria Christian genocide what it is. When we tell the truth, we bear witness to God’s justice.
— Support wisely. Give to ministries providing food, shelter, and trauma care to persecuted families.
— Advocate righteously. Write to leaders, media outlets, and churches. Demand that persecution be acknowledged. I covered this in Why We Must Speak Out for Religious Freedom.
— Forgive and persevere. Remember Christ’s words: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
These commands aren’t easy, but they are powerful. The blood of the martyrs becomes the seed of the Church.
Hope Beyond the Headlines
While governments debate terminology, heaven keeps record. Every believer slain in Nigeria stands now before the throne, clothed in white, awaiting God’s justice. Their deaths are not statistics; they are testimonies of unwavering faith.
And for us who remain free, their witness demands action. We can’t look away. We must pray, speak, and live as though their suffering matters, because to Christ, it does.
“Remember those in prison as if you were together with them, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” — Hebrews 13:3
Arch Kennedy
Bold, Unfiltered, and Unafraid
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