ECWA Raises Alarm, Says Violence Against Christians Has Reached Genocidal Levels

By Ademola Adekusibe
12th December 2025

The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has raised fresh concerns over the scale and persistence of attacks on Christian communities across Nigeria, warning that the situation reflects what it describes as a continuing genocide. At a press briefing in Jos, Plateau State, the church’s General Secretary, Dr. Ayuba Asheshe, said ECWA’s internal data shows that more than 19,100 churches have been burnt or destroyed in the past 16 years, averaging over 1,200 attacks annually. He noted that at least 600 clerics, including pastors and Catholic priests, have been abducted, with several still unaccounted for. According to him, between 2009 and 2023 alone, an estimated 52,000 Christians were killed and 18,500 abducted in various incidents across the country.

Asheshe also referenced findings from international monitoring organisations to support the church’s position. He said reports by Open Doors USA indicate that Nigerians accounted for 82 percent of Christians killed globally between October 2022 and September 2023, while more than 3.5 million Christians have been displaced from their homes as a result of ongoing violence. He further cited the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), which estimates that over 100,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in the last two decades. Within ECWA alone, he added, 208 members were abducted between 2023 and 2024, with some dying in captivity due to harsh conditions and lack of access to medical care.

While expressing concern over years of inadequate response, Asheshe acknowledged that the Nigerian government has recently taken steps aimed at strengthening security operations and improving coordination among security agencies. He said ECWA welcomes the increased deployment to rural hotspots, renewed intelligence-driven operations, and plans to support the safe return of displaced persons to their communities. He urged the government to sustain the effort, ensure accountability for those responsible for financing or enabling attacks, and demonstrate consistent political will in addressing the root causes of insecurity affecting Christian communities across the country.