A Sunday Morning Turned Into a Nightmare What began as a routine Sunday of prayer and fellowship in southern Kaduna ended in terror when heavily armed gunmen stormed three churches in a single community, abducting more than 100 worshippers and disappearing into surrounding forests. The coordinated attacks, carried out in broad daylight, have once again […]
By Smart Chuks – Senior Investigative Correspondent, SaharaNews247 When Pastor Chris Okafor dropped to his knees in front of thousands of worshippers at his Lagos headquarters, the congregation fell silent. Cameras captured the moment as the founder of Grace Nation Liberation City bowed his head, folded his hands and asked for forgiveness. For a man
By Smart Chuks, Nigeria was thrust into global headlines after yet another devastating school abduction took place in Niger State. On Friday, 21 November 2025, armed assailants stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri community, Agwarra Local Government Area, abducting hundreds of students and teachers. Updated verification by church authorities and the
Introduction In late 2025, a fierce debate erupted in Nigeria following the public comments of Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Media & Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu. Bwala strongly rejected the notion of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, arguing that the country’s security challenges are broad and not solely targeted at Christians. However, Christian
By: Chinedu Okafor On October 31, 2025, a diplomatic storm erupted after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Nigeria had been added to the United States’ list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged violations of religious freedom. The designation, issued under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act, immediately reignited global debate about
By Chidi Nwankwo Introduction In a decisive diplomatic message that underscores Nigeria’s shifting approach to international relations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has called on the United States government to prioritize military and strategic support in the fight against terrorism instead of labeling Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). The statement, attributed to
By Chidi Nwankwo Introduction In a major foreign policy decision reverberating across Africa and global diplomatic circles, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on October 31, 2025, that the United States has designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. The move places Nigeria — Africa’s most populous
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has strongly countered the Presidency’s recent dismissal of claims that Christians are facing systemic persecution and targeted killings across the country. According to CAN, the situation has reached a crisis level amounting to what it describes as a “Christian genocide,” urging the Federal Government to address the issue honestly
By Emmanuel NwosuDate: October 14, 2025 Abia in Mourning: Communities and Churches React to the Passing of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai The death of Evangelist Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA), has left Abia State and the Christian community across Nigeria in deep sorrow. The revered evangelist, known for
Introduction The balance between security, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression has always been delicate in Nigeria, a country where religion plays a deeply influential role in politics, community life, and national identity. The recent announcement by the Niger State government under Governor Umar Bago that preachers must submit their sermons for official vetting
