UN experts are sounding the alarm over violence against Christian women and children in Nigeria

UN experts have expressed serious concern over the sharp deterioration in the security situation in Nigeria, emphasizing that Christian women and girls are at heightened risk of murder, abduction, forced marriage, and sexual violence. A joint statement to that effect was sent by five UN human rights experts to the Nigerian government, according to and Christian Today.

The letter notes that between 2019 and 2025, thousands of attacks took place in the country, claiming tens of thousands of civilian victims, the majority of whom were Christians. Armed groups such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), and Fulani herder militias are identified as the main perpetrators of these crimes. Experts expressed extreme concern over the “inaction and complicity” of government officials, as well as the extremely slow pace of investigations into these crimes.

The report details cases of egregious human rights violations, including the forced conversion of minors to Islam, amputations for refusing forced marriage, and the sexual exploitation of women in camps for displaced persons. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Sharia law is in effect in Nigeria’s 12 northern states, and charges of blasphemy are regularly used to justify reprisals against religious minorities.

The international community is increasing pressure on the authorities in Abuja. In October 2025, the United States once again designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” regarding religious freedom. For their part, representatives of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) welcomed the UN’s intervention, noting that the Nigerian state’s institutional failures directly contribute to the escalation of terror. Meanwhile, amid the broader crisis, a recent victory in the Federal High Court set a precedent: a woman who had converted to Christianity succeeded in having the actions of the Hisbah religious police—who had attempted to force her into marriage—ruled unlawful.