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New interviews with displaced Christians clearly show how desperate the situation is.
"They killed many of our people, including many of my husband's family. Because of the chaos, we were just running helter-skelter."
Imma*, a Christian in Benue State, Nigeria
In mid-June, militant Fulani extremists attacked multiple communities in Nigeria's Benue State. Over the course of one horrifying week, the violence left more than 200 people dead and thousands of people displaced from their homes and villages.
Most of the attacked villages are made up of Christians. And this brutality echoes a pattern we continue to see in Nigeria: Islamic militants among the Fulani people disproportionately attack Christian communities, leaving countless dead, on the run, and traumatized.
The effect can be chilling for the church in Nigeria. The resilient faith of Nigerian believers is put to the test, again and again ... the targeted attacks leave Christians battered and bruised, clinging to their faith.
Recently, Open Doors' local partners were able to spend time with some of the displaced people who were impacted by the violence. In these powerful video clips, believers shared firsthand what the attacks were like.
Many believers feel that the attacks stem not only from land disputes but also from targeted and violent religious persecution. "As for the reason why they attacked us, I feel it is because we are Christians and they are Muslims trying to take over our agricultural lands," says Simon*, another displaced believer in Benue State. "I think that they forcefully want to convert us to Islam, and because we are not doing that, they keep attacking us until maybe we lose faith."
Thanks to your gifts and prayers, Open Doors' partners were able to provide around 300 families with emergency aid in the aftermath of the attacks.
But the needs are huge. Through our on-the-ground partners, Open Doors is working with local Christians to determine the best way to provide for them long-term. When you give a gift today, you can help make sure this urgently needed aid gets the people who need it most.
Will you help? Click here.
Of course, what these displaced brothers and sisters need most is prayer. "I pray that God empowers fellow believers to help us," Imma shares. "To help us spiritually by praying for us, and also to help us with other needs."
Pray that: