Persecuted Christians in Nigeria Combat Pentecost Massacre with Grace

The New York Times, among others, writing about the Pentecost bloodbath at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Owo, Nigeria, couldn’t hazard a guess as to why such a thing might happen. The leadership of Ireland is not alone in blaming climate change for what is clearly the consistent targeting of Christians in Nigeria. And yet, it’s not a shock to anyone paying attention to learn that it was likely the responsibility of an Islamic militant group with ties to the so-called Islamic State.

Meanwhile, what tremendous grace radiates from the targets of the violence, as is often the case with persecuted Christians (see examples from Egypt here and Iraq here). Earlier this week, the Catholic Diocese of Ondo in Nigeria released a letter to the public calling for peace and a reverence for human life. We could afford to learn from them.

As a Church, we are so grieved by this gruesome murder and we condemn this evil meted on our brothers and sisters who have only come to worship God. We confess and preach the sacredness of human lives. We unequivocally ask that those who have been saddled to the safety of life and property should bring the perpetrators of this abominable act to justice, and justice soon. They must be fished out wherever they are. It is quite disheartening and embarrassing that these unnecessary killings, kidnappings and other atrocities are now done with impunity on a daily basis.

In response to this callous murder, the bishop has directed that Masses be celebrated for the repose of the souls of those who died and for the quick recovery of those injured for the next nine (9) days, beginning from the 7th to the 15th of June, 2022, across the diocese. Within the context of these Novena Masses, a prayer composed by the diocese for the healing of our brothers and sisters and for the repose of those who have died must be prayed during masses.

A Nigerian-born priest (serving in the U.S. where we have a priest shortage) on his first home visit in seven years was interviewed by Crux:

Abanulo said the current state of Nigeria demands global intervention.

“If there is any help from any part of the world, we need it,” Abanulo said. “We need help in terms of whatever it takes to come and intervene militarily and otherwise. I’m asking, we are praying, whatever it takes for world leaders to come to the help of especially Christians.”

Fulani herdsmen have carried out numerous attacks in the northern and central regions of Nigeria. The country is almost evenly divided between Muslims and Christians: Muslims predominate in the North, Christians in the South, and they are fairly evenly divided in the country’s “Middle Belt.” Fulani raiders have rarely attacked the country’s South.

Abanulo said that is no longer the case.

“Here people are being kidnapped. Here people are being robbed. People are being killed every day,” Abanulo said. “As I talk to you people are being kidnapped. People are afraid of going about their business, to farm, to travel, to do business.”

“Nigeria has really changed from what it was when I was growing up,” he added.

The concern of Nigerian Christians is reflected in Abanulo’s own visit home. The priest said he only told his nephew about the trip and surprised his family with his arrival out of a fear that telling multiple people was a risk.

Abanulo said he’s kept a low profile and mostly stays indoors, saying that his family is “protecting me, guiding me, and making sure that I don’t get into trouble.” Still, he hasn’t gone far outside of the village because he doesn’t know what he’ll “meet on the road.”

Abanulo leaves Nigeria next week and said the mental images of what his country has become will never leave his mind. He acknowledged there’s trepidation about leaving his family after witnessing the unstable situation that exists, but said, “you can only do what you do, and then leave everything in the hands of God.”

“Truly, I will be worried, but I pray that God will help,” Abanulo said. “If we’re able to get global movements and then also the church to step in that would be wonderful. Maybe that’s how God will help get attention on our people here.”

Disheartening and embarrassing here at home is that the Biden administration has taken Nigeria off its list of countries of concern. There was an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal about this earlier in the week:

The shock waves of this massacre are still reverberating through Nigeria’s Christian community, a group already reeling from a flood of recent violence. Four weeks ago a mob of Muslim students beat to death Deborah Samuel, a young Christian woman accused of offending Islam after sharing the message “Jesus Christ is the greatest. He helped me pass my exams” on a WhatsApp messaging group.

Two weeks later, on May 25, the Rev. Stephen Ojapa and his assistant were kidnapped by gunmen. Their whereabouts are unknown, and other Christian leaders kidnapped in similar circumstances have died in captivity.

My organization, Open Doors USA, ranks the countries that are most hostile to Christians. Nigeria is seventh on the list. Though the country places few restrictions on worship, it ranks first for the total number of Christians killed for their faith. Our most recent annual report documented the killing of 4,650 Christians in Nigeria in 2021, more than one every two hours. The violence shows no signs of abating this year.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, to which I was recently appointed, has recommended since 2009 that Nigeria be added to the U.S. government’s “Country of Particular Concern” list. The list is an important tool for identifying the worst violators of religious freedom across the globe. In December 2020, the Trump administration heeded that advice. The following year, however, the Biden administration reversed the decision without explanation. In fact, it removed Nigeria from the list hours before Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in the country for official meetings.

Last week the State Department released its annual report on international religious freedom, highlighting a range of violent incidents perpetrated against religious communities in Nigeria. Under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the president has 90 days from the issuance of the report to designate countries of particular concern. Given the carnage at St. Francis Xavier Church, the president should redesignate Nigeria immediately.

A few days ago, I had a brief tweet about the Pentecost massacre and was humbled by the response to it. Over 32,000 likes since I last checked, many of them seemingly from Nigeria. The gratitude those persecuted tend to have when one notices should beg us to do more.

We could start by joining them in prayer for healing and peace. And urging our government to tell the truth about what’s happening there.

And I promise you this is far from the most graphic video I can point to from Sunday:

Please join me in conversation with Stephen Rasche, who works on the front lines of international religious liberty, on Monday. You can read an interview he did on the attack and Christians in Nigeria earlier this week. RSVP for our live conversation here. (You can watch it after the fact on the National Review Institute YouTube channel.) The Religious Freedom Institute, where Steve is a senior fellow and I’m a media fellow, is co-sponsoring.)