UN expresses concern over violence against Christian women in Nigeria

UN. Photo: mtv.com.lb

Five UN human rights experts have declared an escalation of violence against Christian women in Nigeria. The advocates sent a joint letter to the country's government, pointing to an increase in killings, abductions, and cases of forced conversion of believing women to Islam, reports Christian Today.

According to the human rights advocates, between 2019 and 2025, armed groups carried out thousands of attacks in the northern regions of the country. Tens of thousands of civilians fell victim to these pogroms, the majority of whom were Christians.

The experts emphasized that Nigeria has become the most dangerous place for believers in the entire world. "Of the 4,849 Christians killed for their faith worldwide in 2025, 3,490 died in Nigeria, accounting for approximately 72% of the total," UN representatives stated. Furthermore, more than 21% of local women between the ages of 15 and 49 have already been subjected to physical or social violence.

In the letter, the authors highlighted several specific instances of crimes committed by radicals against Christian families. In particular, Boko Haram militants abducted two daughters of a pastor of the Church of Christ in Borno State, whose whereabouts remain unknown to this day. In another case, extremists cut off the hand of a 16-year-old Christian girl from Kaduna State after her parents refused to give her in marriage to a militant. The advocates also mentioned the story of a 13-year-old girl who was forcibly married off and made to convert to Islam, with a local Sharia court blocking her father's attempts to recover his daughter.

A critical situation has also developed in refugee camps, where approximately three and a half million internally displaced persons reside. Christian women give birth in the rain during shelling, have no access to basic medical care, and are often forced to exchange sexual services for food. "Christian women in some parts of Nigeria conceal their religious identity or wear the hijab for the sake of protecting their own lives and gaining social acceptance," the UN experts emphasized.

The UN expressed grave concern over the inaction and direct connivance of Nigerian state structures. Local authorities ignore appeals from human rights advocates, and courts legitimize verdicts in blasphemy cases, which provokes mob attacks on Christian communities.

"Failures in state institutions and the absence of decisive action have exacerbated instability in the country," summarized Giorgio Mazzoli, Director of Advocacy at ADF International, calling on Nigeria's leadership to immediately reform discriminatory legislation.

As the UOJ reported, the United States blocked financial support for Nigeria over persecution of Christians.

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