In a stark change from 2022, when lawmakers avoided addressing the lynching of Christian student Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto, northwest Nigeria, by angry Muslim youths, the European Parliament has now voted overwhelmingly, 510 to 1, to strongly condemn the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
This comes at a time when, despite the withdrawal of US troops from the country, US congressmen like Riley Moore have consistently spoken out against the targeting of Christians in central Nigeria, with many urging President Trump to fully invoke the Magnitsky Act which punishes those who infringe on religious freedom.
Background to Resolutions
Nigeria is still one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians. In 2025 alone, at least 3,490 Christians lost their lives because of their faith, adding to the estimated 50,000 to 100,000 deaths since Boko Haram’s insurgency began in 2002. Thousands of churches, including dozens of rectories, have also been attacked or destroyed.
Providing context, the Parliament detailed that, “The horrific attacks in Kavel village, where innocent Christians, including their pastor, were brutally killed is yet another tragic reminder of the escalating violence against Christians’ communities in Nigeria. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident.
“Nigeria has become one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. Across the country, Christian communities face repeated attacks by Fulani militants, Boko Haram, and other organized groups. Violence is part of a broader and deeply warring pattern of persecution,” the Parliament decried.
While condemning the killing of innocent citizens, it called on the Nigerian government to address the plight of persecuted Christians and minorities in the country.
“EU must therefore strongly condemn these attacks and press on the Nigerian government to step up its fight against the armed militant groups responsible for this violence. I call on the Commission to give urgent attention to the worsening situation of Christians in Nigeria and all persecuted religious communities in Nigeria,” the resolution noted.
Previous Resolutions
In February 2024, Parliament passed an urgent resolution after Fulani militants killed at least 195 Christians across more than 20 communities in Plateau State during the 2023 Christmas period.
It also backed the defense of Rhoda Jatau, a Christian woman prosecuted for allegedly condemning on social media the 2022 mob killing of student Deborah Yakubu, who was beaten and burned to death by classmates over a blasphemy accusation.
In December 2025, the body urged Nigeria to strengthen protections for Christians, especially in schools, after a mass kidnapping of over 300 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
The resolution followed previous resolutions condemning Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, anti–Christian violence and widespread kidnappings of schoolchildren across the country. Notably, the Irish Green Party was one party that voted against discussing Deborah’s lynching at the time.
Meanwhile, the resolution urged accountability as Christians face continued attacks across Nigeria.
Christians face repeated attacks by Fulani Militants, Boko Haram
“Across the country, Christians face repeated attacks by Fulani militants, Boko Haram and other organized groups. Violence is part of a broader and deeply worrying pattern of persecution,” said MEP Miriam Lexmann, Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Freedom of Religion, Belief and Conscience, during the debate.
Sean Nelson, a Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at Alliance Defending Freedom, noted that “No community should have to bury its pastor and its children because they follow Christ. The massacre in Kawel is not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a devastating and well-documented pattern of violence against Christians in Nigeria.”
On his part, Adina Portaru, a Senior Counsel for Europe at Alliance Defending Freedom, underlined that “As long as these attacks continue and Nigeria fails to uphold its religious freedom commitments, international institutions will have no choice but to keep addressing the crisis.”
Portaru insisted that “Over the past several years, Parliament has repeatedly debated and adopted resolutions condemning the persecution of Christians and religious minorities in Nigeria. The fact that it must keep returning to this issue speaks to the sheer scale and severity of the violence and fear these communities face daily.”
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have lauded the European Parliament’s call to bring an end to widespread persecution in Nigeria.
European Parliament holds Nigeria accountable to protect Christians
“We commend the European Parliament for continuing to hold Nigeria accountable to protect the Christians and religious minorities who have faced relentless violence and persecution for far too long, particularly in the Middle Belt region where the persecution of Christians is most devastating,” Alliance Defending Freedom maintained.
After fruitful discussions, Marie McGuinness, the newly appointed EU Special Envoy on Religious Freedom, was charged “to help Christian and other religious groups who face persecution.”
