Nigeria: 73 Killed in Two Weeks

At least 73 people were murdered in the first two weeks of 2026, as persecution against Christians and others continues in Nigeria.

Armed bandits opened fire on Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village, Niger state January 3, killing at least 50 people. Although victims were both Muslim and Christian, they specifically targeted a pastor from Kwana district, Reverend Ishaya Bamayi. Many others were abducted. (January 6, International Christian Concern)

A Muslim police force in Kano state has been holding a missing 15-year-old Christian girl, Ummi Tambaya, since January 1. Hisbah commander of Rogo, Malam Sani, refuses to let her go. Her family fears they are forcibly converting her to Islam. (January 14, Christian Daily International-Morning Star News)

At least 13 Christians in Benue state were murdered by Fulani herdsmen, who invaded their homes and shot them in their beds at midnight — four on January 12 in Otomi Akpa village, and nine on January 5-6 in Kwande and Guma counties. Dozens more are still missing. On January 8, a Christian community in Ukum county was attacked and families were forced to flee. On December 30, they attacked a Christian funeral in Okpokwu county. (CDI-MSN, January 13)

Fulani terrorists killed ten Christians and set fire to four villages last Saturday night in Donga county, Taraba state. (CDI-MSN, January 12)

Perhaps 125,000 Christians have been murdered by Boko Haram, Fulani and other Muslim terrorists in Nigeria since 2019. Up to 19,000 churches have been burned and about five million believers have been displaced from their homes. In fact, in 2025 alone, some 7,000 Christians have already been martyred.

The numbers differ from various sources, but all are so alarming that U.S. President Donald Trump recently designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern.”

See our Nigeria page page for more updates and prayers.

Lord, please have mercy. Watch over Ummi and keep her from harm or abuse. Speak to her tenderly and comfort her with Your love. Block every plan of the enemy against her, and make the way for her quick release and safe return to her parents. Visit Malam in his dreams, showing him the way to salvation so powerfully he is broken with fear of the Lord and moved to repentance. Show him and all those under his command that their religion of violence, rape and other evil attacks against the innocent is not of You. Move them to lay down Islam and choose salvation through Christ before it’s too late. Please do the same for all other terrorists holding Christians and others hostage. Visit them in their dreams and guide them to You. Send Your angels to fight for the hostages, minister to them and block attacks against them. Heal their bodies, minds and hearts, and make the way for their quick and safe release.

Be a Shield around every Christian in Nigeria, and guard them and their families, homes, crops and livestock from further attacks. Heal the bodies and minds of all those who survived evil attacks or are mourning the death of a loved one. Please, Lord, bring an end to the violence in Nigeria. March in Your angel armies and crush the enemy’s plans. Protect believers from persecution and harm. For every Christian persecuted and church attacked, bring 1,000 Fulani and Muslim extremists to faith in You, and plant hundreds of new churches. Turn what the enemy meant for evil into great good for Your Kingdom. And bless abundantly those who have suffered much for Your name. Amen. 

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