Terrorist threat grows in Nigeria: dozens dead in attacks on Christian villages

A series of violent attacks have been recorded in northeastern Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians and the destruction of religious sites. Militants linked to the Islamic State terrorist group have stepped up attacks in Adamawa state, confirming a general trend of rising violence in the region recorded by international observers.

Christian Today reports that terrorists from the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) group claimed responsibility for the April 21 attack on the village of Kubako. The raid killed at least 12 people and burned down a church building. Barnabas Aid officials note that in their propaganda materials, the extremists refer to the victims as “combatants,” implying Christians who refused to convert to Islam. On the same day, cleric Emmanuel Ezokwe was killed in Adamawa State.

An even larger attack took place in Gombi area where at least 29 people were killed in the village of Guyaku. The state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, personally visited the scene of the tragedy, condemning the action of the militants. Simultaneously in Kogi State, gunmen raided a boarding school and abducted 23 pupils, 15 of whom were later rescued. Local authorities emphasized that the school was operating without official authorization.

According to the Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria ranks fourth in the world in terms of terrorist activity. In 2025, the number of terror-related deaths increased by 46% in the country. In response to the escalating violence, the U.S. sent 200 troops to Nigeria to train local units. The move followed sharp criticism from Donald Trump, who accused the Nigerian government of failing to stop the mass killing of Christians. However, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected the accusations, emphasizing that terror victims come from all faiths.

Despite official statements by the authorities, church leaders in the region have for years characterized what is happening as an anti-Christian genocide. According to their estimates, tens of thousands of Christians have been killed in conflicts in the north of the country and in the “Middle Belt” over the past 15 years.