(SeaPRwire) – JOHANNESBURG — Following a Holy Week assault in a largely Christian Nigerian town, which reportedly claimed 28 lives, there are now widespread concerns that more Christians could face attacks during the upcoming Easter weekend.
Last weekend, on Palm Sunday, several armed individuals reportedly yelled a Muslim declaration while indiscriminately firing shots in Angwan Rukuba, a predominantly Christian town located in the Jos District of Nigeria’s Plateau State.
“The terrorists attacked the area in a commando fashion, opening fire erratically and shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great in Arabic),” a field worker present at the scene informed the aid agency Voice of the Martyrs. They added, “The community is predominantly Christian.”
Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, informed Digital that this Easter, concerns persist regarding further assaults on Christians in Nigeria.
Blyth stated, “Such tragic incidents are unfortunately frequent in Plateau State and extensive parts of northern Nigeria.” She continued, “These often coincide with Christian holy days. Residents in the region will recall the destructive Christmas Eve attacks in Benue state in 2023, which resulted in over 140 fatalities.”
Open Doors ranks Nigeria as the seventh-most dangerous country globally for Christian persecution. The organization asserts that Nigeria is responsible for 72% of all Christian killings worldwide in 2025.
A local human rights lawyer, who requested anonymity for security reasons, was in the vicinity during the recent attack. He recounted to Digital, “Approximately 20 individuals arrived, some on motorcycles, and began shooting.”
He further noted that the area is fundamentally Christian, suggesting that “for anyone to openly fire upon people, it must be that Christians were specifically targeted.”
Another Christian resident, who also wished to remain unnamed, informed Digital, “I can assure you that the prevailing view among Nigerian Christians is that what we are enduring in Nigeria constitutes Islamic expansionism, and it must be halted by any necessary means.”
The human rights lawyer mentioned reports of circulating videos that threaten further attacks on Christians, stating, “Here in Jos, Nigeria, we often say that no Christian holiday or event on the Christian calendar, be it Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, or Sunday services, has been spared from attacks by radical Islamists or terrorists in Nigeria. We feel trapped.”
Todd Nettleton of the Voice of the Martyrs’ group stated to Digital that in nations such as Nigeria, “Easter frequently represents a period of danger. Christian holy days, including Christmas and Easter, are often chosen by those hostile to the Gospel to launch violent assaults on our fellow believers.”
Blythe from Open Doors remarked, “The dread of brutal attacks will loom over millions of Christians throughout Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa as they prepare for Easter, a celebration that ought to be the most joyous occasion in the Christian calendar. We will be praying for Christians worldwide to be safe and able to celebrate and worship joyfully this Easter season.”
Digital attempted to contact the Nigerian government for a statement but did not receive a reply.
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