The Tar Heel Knight

As I began to research this topic, I hit a few roadblocks.  Major media, and even the Pope, do not reject that Christians have been targeted in Nigeria.  However, they do not identify it as Christian persecution. The common theme is that there are attacks on Christians, but that in Nigeria the widespread violence that has long plagued the nation is not solely against Christians. The claim is that everyone is a potential victim, regardless of background or belief.  This information was found in an Associated Press article written by Chinedu Asadu, November 18, 2025.
 
That article went on to state that Nigeria's population of 220,000,000 is split evenly between Christians, who live predominantly in the south, and muslims, mostly in the north. Nationwide, muslims constitute a slight majority. The article infers that most of the attacks are in the north of the country, not the south.
 
The article further reads that President Trump has singled out Nigeria for what he calls the "killing of Christians by radical islamists".  Victims and Christian leaders echo Trump's claims that Christians are persecuted. They say they've long been attacked, kidnapped or killed because of their faith.  Just recently, over 300 female students and some adults at a Catholic Boarding School were kidnapped in northern Nigeria.  Recently, 100 of them have been returned with the remaining 200 unknown as to their location or state of health.
 
The question is: Is the idea that Christians are being targeted for their faith, reality or rhetoric?  According to a National Review article published 11/10/25, it reads, "According to Open Doors World Watch List research, 3100 of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide for their faith last year were in Nigeria alone. Nigeria also leads the world in Christians abducted for their faith, with 2,830 out of 3,775 worldwide.
 
So, in Nigeria are Christians/Catholics being targeted or are people being targeted regardless of Christian or not?  You decide!  Can both be true?
 
Walter Zabicki
Chairman, Christian Refugee Relief
Christiansatrisk@kofcnc.org