PRAY FOR NIGERIA

Nigeria is located in West Africa. It is only 40% larger than Texas, but has a population of over 218 million compared to the 25 million people in Texas. It is the most populous country in Africa, and the world's sixth-most populous country. Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages. English is the official language. The three largest tribes are the Hausa in the north, Yoruba in the west, and Igbo in the east, together comprising over 60% of the total population. Nigeria's constitution ensures freedom of religion, and the country is divided roughly in half between Muslims, who live mostly in the north, and Christians, who live mostly in the south.

Persecution of Christians in Nigeria is brutally violent. In much of northern Nigeria Christians are under the constant threat of attack from Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Fulani militants and criminals who kidnap and murder with few consequences. ISWAP and Boko Haram want to eliminate all Christians in Nigeria, and Muslim Fulani militants attack Christian villages specifically. Some of Nigeria’s northern states live under Shariah law where Christians face discrimination and are treated as second-class citizens. Christians who convert from Islam face rejection from their families, are often pressured to recant their faith in Jesus, and may be violently attacked.