In the shadow of global headlines, a silent genocide unfolds, we know in these last days, as the Scriptures warn us, persecution will increase. Jesus Himself said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
While protests fill the streets of Glasgow and Scotland, decrying perceived injustices against others, a forgotten crisis demands our attention, our prayers, and our mourning.
In Nigeria, Christians who follow Jesus are being systematically targeted, slaughtered, and displaced in numbers that stagger the imagination.
Over 7,000 have been killed in the first eight months of 2025 alone, with millions more displaced and churches burned to the ground. Yet, amidst this horror, these believers cling to their faith, preaching the Word with a love for the Lord that deepens through persecution.
As followers of Jesus, we must turn our hearts and voices from the noise of the streets to the quiet, desperate cries of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria.
The Reality of Persecution
The story of Eria, a Christian mother in northern Nigeria, is but one thread in this tapestry of suffering.
In an October attack, Islamist militants killed her husband and two young children before severing her hand and leaving her for dead with her seven-year-old son, who miraculously survived.
This is not an isolated incident but part of a relentless wave of violence by groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, who see Christians as enemies to be eradicated. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
Reports from Open Doors and other watchdogs reveal a chilling statistic: an average of 35 Christians killed each day in 2025. Villages are raided at night, families burned alive, and survivors left to flee with nothing but their faith.
These Nigerian believers are living out this truth, yet their faith only deepens. They continue to preach the Word, love the Lord, and hold fast to the promise that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
This is not merely conflict over resources, as the Nigerian government often claims. It is a targeted genocide, meeting the criteria of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, where a group is destroyed based on their identity, in this case, their faith in Jesus Christ.
The international community, including the United Nations, has been slow to respond, and the global media remains silent mainly, overshadowed by other narratives, like NO Jews NO News!
The Contrast in Glasgow
Meanwhile, in Glasgow and across Scotland, protests against Jewish people have dominated the streets, often fuelled by misinformation and a distorted view of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Media outlets like BBC, Channel 4, and ITV have propagated claims of a genocide in Gaza, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
These protests, while exercising free speech, have sometimes crossed into antisemitism, ignoring the complexities of the situation and the suffering of all involved. Yet, where is the outcry for the Nigerian Christians? Where are the marches, the vigils, the calls for justice?
Jesus calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves (Mark 12:31), and this love must extend beyond borders and biases. The selective outrage we witness is a distortion of this command, focusing on one narrative while another, equally grave, is ignored.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The burdens of Nigerian Christians are heavy indeed, and it is our duty to bear them in prayer and action.
A Call to Prayer and Mourning
As followers of Jesus, we are not called to protest against one group while ignoring another. Instead, we are called to intercede, to mourn with those who mourn, and to stand in the gap for the persecuted. Romans 12:15 urges us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” The streets of Glasgow should not be filled with division but with a unified cry to heaven for mercy and justice.
Let us turn our protests into prayers. Gather your Church community, and host a night of intercession. Use passages like Psalm 10:17–18, “Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may oppress no more.”
Pray for Eria and her son, for the pastors preaching amidst ashes, for the millions displaced, and for the hearts of perpetrators to be turned to Christ.
Mourn with them. Pray deeply, Share the Truth. Jesus Himself wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44), and we must weep over Nigeria.
Join our ministry at https://bornagainchristians.faith/born-again-network/groups/viewgroup/7-christians-under-persecution be a beacon of hope, reminding us that “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).
A Call to Action
Prayer is powerful, but it must be paired with action. Here are practical steps we can take:
- Advocate: Write to your MP and MEPs, urging them to pressure the Nigerian government and the international community for protection and justice. Support campaigns like Open Doors’ “Arise Africa,” which calls for an end to this genocide.
- Educate: Share resources on your and church social media. Highlight testimonies like Eria’s and the Nigerian pastor’s plea at the mass grave.
- Be informed: Don’t listen or watch the mainstream media follow GB News and Talk TV, Tousi TV.
- Support Relief: Organizations like Open Doors and International Christian Concern are on the ground, providing trauma care, relief, and discipleship. Even a small donation can make a significant difference.
- Community Engagement: Host discussions or teaching series on persecution, drawing from Scripture like 1 Peter 4:12–19 “Suffering for God’s Glory” as I’ll share in the coming days. Help your congregation understand the global body of Christ and their role in it.
Conclusion
The forgotten genocide in Nigeria is a test of our faith and our love for Jesus. As His followers, we cannot remain silent. The protests in Glasgow and Scotland, while expressing concern for one cause, must not overshadow the suffering of our Nigerian family.
Let us turn our energy from division to unity, from noise to prayer, from indifference to mourning. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Let us lay down our comfort, our apathy, and our selective outrage to stand with those who are laying down their lives for Him.