Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) says that kidnappings are happening in multiple states of Nigeria. In one case, hundreds of students were kidnapped.
"What we don't know right now is what is behind this. Is this simple criminal activity to raise money? 'We want to get some ransom, so we're going to grab people, charge a ransom, and then give them back.' Or is this targeting Christians?" questions Nettleton.
In another case, a pastor and his bride were kidnapped from their wedding celebration.
"Is that a targeting of a pastor, or is that, like I say, just a criminal activity to try to raise funds? Those are things we're still figuring out, but it is completely unsafe in northern Nigeria right now, and it appears, at least from a distance, that part of this is targeting Christians," states Nettleton.
According to the U.S. Department of State, President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern this year on October 31st, due in part to how Christians are being treated in Nigeria. Trump made a similar move in December 2020.
"One of the big questions is — okay, you've called it a country of particular concern, but it's not the government that is the problem as far as actively persecuting Christians — now, could the government do more to protect Christians?" questions Nettleton. "The answer is yes; it probably could.”
VOM’s Global Prayer Guide lists different countries as either monitored, hostile, or restricted. As of now, Nigeria is listed as a hostile country. According to VOM, Nigeria has an almost even split in religion between Christians and Sunni Muslims.
Some of the people attacking Christians in Nigeria include radical Islamists. Nettleton says that the good news at least is that people are talking about this.
“Many Christians are praying for Nigeria when they were not praying for Nigeria six months ago," informs Nettleton.
