Christians in Nigeria Killed on Palm Sunday for Sharing Faith

Guest Commentary

Audio By Carbonatix

By Amber Ginter, Crosswalk.com

In the U.S., we rarely have to worry about being persecuted for believing in Jesus. While there are people who disagree with us, the violence is far and few between compared to foreign countries around the world. On Palm Sunday, 2026, this was sadly the case.

At a local bar in the city of Jos in Nigeria, around 8 p.m., gunmen killed at least 12 people while an angry mob killed an additional 10. Attacks on Christian communities have been common in recent years, but the violence around the Middle Belt and north has been steadily increasing in the weeks leading up to Easter.

Located in the Angolan Rukuba neighborhood, Plateau State, the local bar-cum-restaurant, Open Doors U.K., was caught off guard when gunmen on bikes started firing sporadically inside and out of the building. According to Fox News, 7,500 Christians have been killed in Nigeria as a whole in 2025.

While it remains unclear who was exactly behind the massacre, International Christian Concern (ICC), a humanitarian organization, notes that the recent shooting's death toll was closer to 30 people. Truth Nigeria believes the attack could be linked to the Boko Haram terrorist group, though no claims have been verified at this time.

After the attack, Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Muftwang called the attack “barbaric and unprovoked.” Not only were individuals within and surrounding the bar killed, but that same night, gunmen also raided a wedding in Kahir village, killing 13 more people and abducting several guests around 11:47 p.m. that evening.

The Christian Post reports that Nigeria now ranks 4th on the Global Terrorism Index. They are also the top country facing the largest increase in terrorism-related deaths of any country globally in 2025.

Regardless of where you live, Christians must gather together to pray for those being persecuted for their faith.

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Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.