Nigeria accounted for the vast majority of Christians killed for their faith worldwide over the past year, according to a newly released international report that has renewed concern over religious violence in sub Saharan Africa. The World Watch List 2026 recorded 4,849 Christian deaths linked to faith based persecution globally, with 3,490 of those occurring in Nigeria alone. The findings place Nigeria at the center of a growing global crisis affecting Christian communities, particularly in regions marked by weak security and prolonged conflict. The report also documented a sharp rise in the overall number of Christians facing high levels of persecution and discrimination, increasing by eight million to a total of 388 million worldwide over a one year period. Human rights advocates say the data reflects both intensifying violence and a lack of effective protection for vulnerable religious minorities in several regions.
The report was presented publicly in London, where lawmakers and religious freedom advocates described Nigeria as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. Speakers highlighted that sub Saharan Africa now represents the deadliest region for Christians, with Nigeria alone accounting for more deaths than all other countries combined. Experts involved in compiling the report said the Nigerian situation has been underreported internationally despite its scale and persistence. In recent months, violence in the country has drawn renewed attention following military operations targeting Islamist militants in the northwest, carried out with international cooperation. At the same time, concerns have been raised about the Nigerian government’s reluctance to frame the crisis in religious terms, amid fears that international designation as a violator of religious freedom could trigger diplomatic or economic consequences.
Violence against Christians in Nigeria is driven by multiple and overlapping factors that vary by region, according to analysts. In the country’s Middle Belt, long standing tensions between predominantly Christian farming communities and largely Muslim Fulani herders have escalated in recent years, fueled by competition over land and resources. Rights groups warn that this conflict has increasingly taken on an ideological dimension, with the emergence of armed Fulani militants who specifically target Christian villages, clergy, and community leaders. Separate from these dynamics, extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province continue to operate in the northeast, openly promoting violent ideologies and carrying out attacks against civilians. Research indicates that Christians are significantly more likely than Muslims to be targeted in certain regions, including through kidnappings for ransom.
International officials and church leaders have called for sustained global attention to the crisis, stressing that silence risks further normalizing violence. At a recent parliamentary gathering, David Smith, the United Kingdom’s special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, urged governments to speak candidly with Nigerian authorities while supporting efforts to protect civilians. He described the situation as complex but insisted that no one should live in fear because of their faith. Church leaders have echoed those concerns, urging stronger protection for all religious communities and meaningful efforts to address root causes of violence. Appeals from Nigerian Christians themselves have emphasized the need for continued international advocacy, warning that without sustained pressure and awareness, attacks are likely to continue unchecked.
