The horror of persecution and being driven away to live in a makeshift tent city in Nigeria

Abraham is chairman of a displacement camp in northern Nigeria. He’s been there with his family of five for three years, ever since their village was devastated by a Fulani militant attack that killed eight people, including his brother. Neglected by the authorities, food at the camp is scarce and conditions are awful.

In areas across sub-Saharan Africa, millions of Christians, like Abraham, have been displaced from their home because of their faith, as Islamic militants pursue their expansionist ideology with devastating impunity. Many believers flee to camps that only add to their suffering and vulnerability. Your support is helping meet many of their urgent needs.

It was midnight when the first gunshots rang out…

Abraham had been warned that Fulani militants were planning to attack his village in Benue State, central Nigeria, so he’d sent his wife and three children to safety. But Abraham could not save his brother.

“They shot him through the door of his home, then he came outside and they shot him in the head.”

That was more than three years ago. Since then, Abraham and his family have lived in a makeshift tent in Ichwa, a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs). It’s too dangerous to go home because, unless the family convert to Islam, militants would kill them.
 

Their agenda is to Islamize us

It was on arrival at Ichwa that Abraham discovered more about what drove the horrific attack on their village—and what’s keeping them from returning. At its heart is an expansionist ideology that has ramifications for the wider sub-Saharan region.

“We were told that our attackers want to forcefully take over our land,” he says. “Their agenda is to Islamize us. That is the main reason we are being killed. Until we accept their agenda, they swear to kill every last one of us.

  “You know, this our land, Benue, is a good land, blessed by God,” says Abraham, gesturing to the surrounding landscape. He comes from the Tiv tribe, who are predominantly subsistence farmers. “A fertile land with very fertile and good soil, and our attackers know that, in this country, our land is widely known as the best for farming. We are also known to be lovers of God.

“When they are done attacking us, they plan to take over our land because it will easily grow food for their consumption and has enough water for their drinking. They like our land and want to forcefully take it from us because we have refused to be Muslims. They said they will finish us by killing us before they proceed to do the same in other parts of the country.

“They want to capture Nigeria and capture other parts of Africa according to their agenda. They have started by capturing the Christian parts.”

Abraham’s story is not unusual. It’s echoed across northern Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, as Islamic militants capitalise on regional instability to expand their influence. In 2023, some 90% of the estimated 5,000 Christians killed for their faith worldwide were from sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest number from Nigeria (4,118). Meanwhile, around 113,000 believers in the region were displaced from their homes, the majority again from Nigeria (around 100,000).


Abraham and his family outside their tent in the displacement camp
 

No food, no hope

But conditions in the camp are desperate…

  “We are struggling to remain alive,” said Abraham, who has taken on the role of camp chairman. “Look at my children, how much weight they have lost.

“Life has been very difficult, and we suffer with our children; they have nothing to do, they have been very rebellious,” says Abraham.”

Up to seven people sleep in every tent, and 3,000 people share just 15 toilets. Abraham’s children no longer attend school and he worries for their future. He’s abandoned his own dream of going to university. It’s no surprise Abraham sometimes asks, where is God.
 

Your care

But you are bringing hope to Ichwa internally displaced persons camp. Your generous support means emergency food and practical help are reaching Abraham and other believers.

“When I told people that Open Doors partners were coming to pay us a visit, they were elated because of the help you have been giving us,” said Abraham. “Last time you provided food, it lasted for about two months even for families with many members.”

More than food, though, Abraham values your steadfast care – because it shows God has not abandoned him.

  “Things here are really bad in the camp but once we see you, we become joyous and excited,” added Abraham, with a smile. “You always ask how we are, and that alone makes us very happy. We know God is helping us.”

Thanks to you, Sub-Saharan African believers like Abraham know they are not alone.

“We always pray God sends angels to our rescue,” said Abraham. “We will worship God because He has preserved our lives. I still have God. He will surely deliver me.”


Abraham (back facing) receiving food from Open Doors partner
 

Your prayer

“Brothers and sisters, I appeal to you all that you help us by praying for us and these attacks. Our major problem right now is for God to touch the minds of our killers and also reduce our sufferings. We have been passing through a lot. We will love to return to our homes. I’m seeing that we are not safe where we are. Please pray for us because of this situation we are presently in.

“We are appealing to Christians all over the world to look upon our sufferings and come to our rescue. Our sufferings are much.”