The Slaughter of Christians in Africa: Nigeria and Beyond, By Peter West

The persecution of Christians in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan regions, represents one of the most severe humanitarian crises unfolding today, driven largely by Islamist extremism, ethnic conflicts, and weak governance. Nigeria stands out as the epicentre, with systematic violence that has led to tens of thousands of deaths, mass displacement, and the destruction of religious infrastructure.Michael Snyder's Substack highlights the urgency, drawing on reports from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), independent verification from NGOs like Open Doors and the International Christian Concern (ICC) confirms the scale. This outline draws on those sources, recent incidents, and global monitoring to detail the situation and explore why Western liberal mainstream media provides minimal coverage.

1. The Crisis in Nigeria: A Pattern of Targeted Annihilation

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with a roughly 50/50 Christian-Muslim split, has seen Christian communities in the north and Middle Belt systematically targeted since Boko Haram's insurgency began in 2009. The violence involves jihadist groups like Boko Haram, its splinter ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), and Fulani herdsmen militias, who often frame attacks as religious warfare to impose sharia law or seize land. These are not isolated clashes but a sustained campaign, with experts warning of "genocidal" intent.

Recent Incidents (2025):

oSeptember 23, Madagali County: Boko Haram raided Wagga Mongoro village at night, killing four Christians (David Mbicho, son Daniel, Jude Jacob, Omega Duda), injuring dozens, burning a church, homes, and vehicles. Hundreds fled; local vigilantes were overpowered.

oSeptember 19: Catholic priest Fr. Matthew Eya shot dead en route to a parish, sparking fears of "religious cleansing."

oOngoing Trends: Fulani militias attacked rural villages in Benue and Plateau states, killing hundreds in August alone, often targeting Christian farmers during harvest seasons. Open Doors ranks Nigeria #1 on its 2025 World Watch List, estimating 3,800 faith-motivated Christian deaths in 2024 (85-90% of global total).

Intersociety's founder, Emeka Umeagbalasi, has stated: "If nothing is done... Christianity will cease to exist in Nigeria," citing a deliberate strategy to "annihilate all Christians and Islamize Nigeria."Since 2015, over 50,000 Christians have been massacred, exacerbated by government inaction under Muslim-majority leadership.

2. Broader Persecution Across Africa: A Continental Emergency

While Nigeria accounts for the majority of incidents, Christian persecution is surging in sub-Saharan Africa, where weak states and Islamist insurgencies intersect with resource conflicts. Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List identifies the region as the "most violent" for Christians, with violence up due to extremism and authoritarianism. Key hotspots:

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, ISIS-affiliated) killed ~1,000 Christians in 2024-2025, displacing 7 million. A September 2025 surge left villages "reeling," with evidence of targeted "genocide" against Christians.

Somalia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso: Al-Shabaab and IS affiliates conduct beheadings and church bombings; Burkina Faso saw 2,000+ Christian deaths in 2024.

Other Nations: Ethiopia, Sudan, and Central African Republic report rising attacks; globally, 365 million Christians face high persecution, with Africa/Latin America seeing the sharpest increases.

Total 2025 Estimate: 5,000-7,500 Christian deaths worldwide, 80%+ in Africa. This exceeds historical benchmarks, outpacing even ISIS's peak in Iraq/Syria.

3. Why Western Liberal Media Largely Ignores the Issue

Coverage in outlets like The New York Times, CNN, and BBC is sporadic and dated, mostly pre-2020 articles on general religious freedom, with scant 2025 mentions of Nigeria-specific violence. A search for "Christian persecution Nigeria 2025" yields zero recent hits from these sources, contrasting with extensive Gaza/Ukraine reporting. Critics, including comedian Bill Maher, attribute this to a "double standard" and "bubble" effect. Potential reasons include:

Selective Outrage and Narrative Bias: Western liberal media often prioritises stories aligning with progressive frames (e.g., anti-colonialism, anti-racism, or anti-"Islamophobia"). Persecution of Christians, especially by Muslim extremists, risks being seen as "punching down" or fuelling Right-wing tropes, leading to underreporting. As Maher noted on Real Time (September 2025): "If you don't know what's going on in Nigeria, your media sources suck" [Van Jones echoed: "Almost no response from the global left."

Complexity Over Sensationalism: Nigeria's violence blends jihadism with farmer-herder clashes and poverty, complicating "genocide" labels. Al Jazeera argues claims are "simplistic" and "propaganda," as Muslims also suffer (e.g., 60,000 liberal Muslims killed). This nuance deters soundbite-driven coverage, unlike clearer "oppressor-oppressed" narratives elsewhere.

Fear of Backlash and "Political Correctness": Reports cite reluctance to highlight Islamist perpetrators due to accusations of bias. UK Bishop Philip Mounstephen called it a "cancer" in 2019, but little has changed. Nigerian media itself downplays Christian targeting, framing it as "banditry."

Resource Allocation and Audience Focus: Global news prioritises U.S.-adjacent stories; Africa's internal crises rank low unless tied to migration or resources. ICC notes: "Counting persecution is harder than counting deaths," as non-fatal abuses (displacement, church burnings) get overlooked.

X discussions amplify frustration: Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) urged U.S. action in October 2025, calling Nigeria the "deadliest country for Christians," while users decry silence amid Palestine focus.

The slaughter in Nigeria and Africa isn't abstract, it's a daily reality for 30+ million Nigerian Christians alone, with echoes in Congo and beyond. While debates rage over "genocide" terminology, the raw data demands action: U.S. State Department "deep concern" is insufficient. Greater media scrutiny could pressure governments for sanctions, aid, and designations like "Country of Particular Concern." As Snyder warns, this is "just the beginning," a call for all to transcend media bubbles and advocate for the vulnerable.

https://michaeltsnyder.substack.com/p/most-people-dont-even-know-about