Christians are being targeted on holy days in Nigeria as fears of Easter attacks grow

JOHANNESBURG A Holy Sunday attack in a predominantly Christian town in Nigeria that left 28 people dead has led to widespread fears that more followers of Christ may be targeted this coming Easter weekend.

On Palm Sunday last weekend, it was reported that many gunmen shouted that they were Muslims when they opened fire in the town of Angwan Rukuba, located in Jos State, Plateau, Nigeria.

“The terrorists stormed the area in the form of commandos and started shooting, constantly chanting, ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great in Arabic),” a field worker told Voice of the Martyrs at the scene, adding that “this area is (mostly) a Christian community.”

Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, told Fox News Digital this Easter that there is a fear of more attacks on Christians in Nigeria: “Terrible events like this are very common in Plateau State and large areas in the north of Nigeria. And they often happen on Christian holy days like this – indeed the people of this region will remember the devastating attacks of 2023 in 2023 on Christmas 140.”

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Nigeria is ranked as the seventh worst country in the world for Christian persecution, by Open Doors. The organization claims to make up 72% of the total number of Worldwide Christian killings by 2025.

A local human rights lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, was nearby when the latest attack took place. He told Fox News Digital “a group of people came, about 20, some on motorcycles, and he started shooting.”

He added that this place is actually Christian “and for anyone to go and shoot people openly, it must be that that person had Christians in mind.”

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Funerals of 27 Christians who were reportedly killed by Islamist Fulani tribesmen in the village of Bindi Ta-hoss, Nigeria on July, 28, 2025. (Courtesy: Christian Solidarity International (CSI))

Another Christian resident of the area, who also asked to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital, “I can assure you that the majority position among Christians in Nigeria is that what we are facing in Nigeria is the rise of Muslims, and it must be stopped, using any means necessary.”

The human rights lawyer said there are reports of videos circulating that threaten more attacks on Christians, adding: “Here in Jos, Nigeria, we say that there is no Christian holiday or event left in the Christian calendar that has escaped attack by extremist Islamists or terrorists in Nigeria, whether it is Christmas, Easter or Good Friday, Palm Sunday, or Sunday services or whatever. We are locked in.”

Christians hold signs as they march through the streets of Abuja during a prayer and penance for peace and security in Nigeria in Abuja on March 1, 2020. – The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria gathered the faithful together with other Christians and other people to pray for security and condemn the brutal killing of Christians by Boko Haram insurgents and the endless crimes of kidnapping in Nigeria. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images)

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In a statement sent by Fox News Digital, Todd Nettleton of the Voice of the Martyrs group said that in countries like Nigeria, “Easter is often a time of danger. Holy days in the Christian calendar, including Christmas and Easter, are often times when those who hate the Gospel violently attack our brothers and sisters.

Open Doors’ Blythe said, “The fear of brutal attacks will hang over millions of Christians across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, as they prepare for Easter – a festival that should be the happiest moment in the Christian calendar. We will be praying that Christians around the world will be safe and free to celebrate and pray with joy this Eastertide.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Nigerian government for comment, but did not receive a response.