This is an unimaginable crisis.
Pastor Barnabas is one of the countless Christian believers forced to live in overcrowded displacement camps in Nigeria following a violent attack by Fulani militants in 2019. The attack, which took place on a farm, claimed the lives of his brother Everen and his brother’s wife, Friday. Barnabas survived the assault but suffered a serious injury when one of the attackers broke his hand with a stick, a wound that still affects him five years later.
Reflecting on his loss, Barnabas shared, “I have lost everything I had.” His village and home were completely destroyed, leaving him with nothing. He and his family have spent the last five years in a displacement camp, living in makeshift tents constructed from cardboard and plastic. The struggle for survival in the camp is relentless, with limited opportunities for work and difficulty in securing enough food for their families. Despite his damaged hand, Barnabas has been unable to afford the medical treatment he needs.
As a displaced pastor, Barnabas continues to minister to fellow Christians in the camp, many of whom are also victims of violent persecution. He noted, “Millions of Christians are displaced here in Nigeria and across Africa… We are remaining in the darkness.”
According to Open Doors, an organization monitoring Christian persecution in over 60 countries, more than 32 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have been displaced in recent years, with approximately 16.2 million of them being Christians. Many of these people have fled due to violence inflicted by Islamic extremist groups or radical Fulani militants, who have targeted Christian farming communities and taken countless lives over the past decade.
The report also highlights the lack of timely intervention by Nigerian security forces during these attacks, which has led to a growing distrust among Christians and fostered an environment where violence and displacement continue to escalate. Open Doors U.S. CEO Ryan Brown has described sub-Saharan Africa as the “most violent place in the world for Christians,” where faith-related deaths have surpassed those in any other region.
Open Doors has called for greater awareness of the issue, urging Western Christian communities to speak up for their persecuted brothers and sisters and keep them in their prayers.