Here is a summary of information about the killings of Christians in Nigeria, Because of varying estimates and conflicting sources, I present several statistics, with citations

killings of christians in nigeria

Overview

Religious-motivated violence in Nigeria has increasingly affected Christian communities, with numerous deaths, abductions, displacement, and attacks on churches over recent years. ACI Africa+3thethirdway.org+3ACI Africa+3

Recent Statistics & Reports

• According to a report by Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORF), between October 2019 and September 2023 there were nearly 56,000 deaths from ethnic and religious violence in Nigeria. Of those, 30,880 were civilians. Among the civilian deaths, at least 16,769 Christians were killed; 6,235 Muslims and 154 adherents of traditional African religions were also killed, while the religious affiliation of 7,722 victims remained unknown. ACI Africa

• In 2024 alone, Open Doors — in its World Watch List report — estimated that 3,100 Christians were killed and 2,830 Christians kidnapped in Nigeria, marking the highest number globally for that year. ACI Africa+1

• A report by International Christian Concern (ICC) indicated that in a three-month span in 2025, more than 300 Christians were killed, dozens abducted, and thousands displaced — including a particularly brutal attack in Zike village, Plateau State, where 56 people (including children) were killed and more than 100 homes burned. International Christian Concern

• As of 2025, some estimates claim that over 7,000 Christians have been killed during the first 220 days of the year, with an average of roughly 32 Christians killed per day. thethirdway.org+1

Examples of Specific Incidents

• In June 2025, the Yelwata massacre — a nighttime attack on a village with many internally displaced Christians — reportedly killed between 100 and 200 people, displacing approximately 3,000. Wikipedia+1

• In April 2023, the Runji massacre in Kaduna State saw at least 33 Christian civilians killed by bandit groups, part of a broader wave of attacks against Christian-majority villages. Wikipedia

• Between May 15 and 16, 2023, in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, over 200 civilian deaths (some from Christian farming communities) were reported in a mass attack by herders. Wikipedia+1

Context & Interpretation

Scholars and human-rights organizations argue that the sustained scale of violence against Christians in Nigeria amounts to more than sporadic conflict — some describe it as systematic persecution, or even genocide. Gatestone Institute+2Atlantic Post+2 The bulk of killings are attributed to extremist groups and armed militias, including but not limited to radicalized herders (often identified as Fulani herdsmen), Islamist insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as loosely affiliated bandits. Atlantic Post+2International Christian Concern+2

Moreover, the violence often extends beyond killings. Reports cite widespread destruction of church buildings, forced displacement of Christian communities, abductions, and targeting of religious leaders — underscoring a pattern of organised attacks against Christian identity, worship, and livelihood. ECSPE+2Atlantic Post+2

Challenges & Disputes

It is important to note that there is no universally accepted consensus on the exact number of victims. Some estimates (especially from advocacy groups) rely on media reports, NGO data, and eyewitness testimony, which may overlap or double-count incidents. ZENIT - English+2thethirdway.org+2

For instance, another monitoring group, Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), found that between January 2020 and September 2025, 317 Christian deaths and 417 Muslim deaths were recorded in so-called “religion-targeted” events — a figure significantly lower than some advocacy-group estimates. ThisDayLive

This discrepancy underscores underreporting, difficulty accessing remote areas, and the challenges of verifying faith-based motives in many attacks.

Conclusion

The available data strongly suggests that Christians in Nigeria have been subject to sustained, large-scale violence — including killings, kidnappings, displacement, and destruction of religious infrastructure — particularly over the last decade. While exact numbers vary across sources, the consistency of reports from multiple independent organizations indicates a serious human-rights crisis.

The magnitude and pattern of these attacks lead many observers to describe them as systematic persecution, if not genocide.