New massacre in Nigeria: more than 20 Christians killed in jihadist attack

A new tragedy has shaken Nigeria. More than 20 Christians were brutally murdered in Borno State, in the northeast of the country, during an attack perpetrated by Islamist extremists affiliated with the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP). According to local media and humanitarian organizations, the attackers broke into a Christian community, set fire to homes and a church, and fired indiscriminately at residents.

The attack, which occurred overnight, is part of an escalation of violence against religious minorities in Nigeria, especially in the northern and northeastern regions of the country, where jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP, operate. Witnesses reported that the terrorists arrived on motorcycles and pickup trucks, armed with assault rifles and explosives, and that many of the deceased died while trying to flee into the forest.
The massacre has once again highlighted the serious situation of insecurity and religious persecution facing Nigeria, especially among Christians, who are frequent targets of attacks. Various reports estimate that more than 50,000 Christians have been killed in the country in the last two decades, and that millions have been displaced from their homes.

Human rights organizations and religious leaders have called on the Nigerian government to provide greater protection for vulnerable communities and an effective plan to curb the spread of violent extremism. However, the state’s response remains insufficient in the face of the growing jihadist threat.

Meanwhile, the suffering of victims and survivors continues in a country where professing a different faith can be a death sentence. The international community has been called upon not to remain indifferent to this humanitarian crisis, which is worsening over time.