A coalition of Nigerian activists in the United States has condemned the massacre of at least 52,000 Christians in Nigeria since 2009 and urged President Donald Trump to intervene urgently.
The activists group which organised a “Save Nigeria Rally” in Washington DC, on Saturday, June 20th 2026, also called on US President, Donald Trump to intervene in the Nigerian situation.
On the rally banner, laid by the side of the Nigerian green-white-flag, painted with shades of blood on the white long cloth was written on the banner front page “52,000 killed Christians with verified names recorded since 2009 across Nigeria.”
During the rally, a Nigerian US based preacher, Bishop John Pedro, founder and senior Pastor of Faith Clinic Church International, an evangelical Christian ministry in Hyattsville, Maryland in the U.S appealed to world leaders especially the US president, Donald Trump to intervene in the situation in Nigeria.
“My appeal is to those whom God has given the grace and ability to make things happen. I want to appeal to our beloved President Donald Trump. I wish we can have the opportunity of speaking straight to you, instead of going through the so-called protocols who I think are not giving you the right information concerning the country Nigeria. They are not feeding you well, Sir. I beg to differ. They are not feeding you well, Sir,” the evangelical preacher appealed.
According to him, “The situation in Nigeria is soluble. The situation in Nigeria can be solved. The situation in Nigeria can be solved. It is not an issue that cannot be solved.”
He linked Nigeria’s crisis situation to forces around the world and Nigeria who do not want the country to survive.
“There are forces around the world. There are forces around the country that don’t want Nigeria to survive,” he stressed. Bishop John urged President Trump to re-engage with Nigeria’s issues.
“So, to our beloved president, we know that God has given you the grace. You have done it in so many lands before. Please! Please!! Please!!! Please !!! Step into Nigeria’s issue again. We need you. This problem is solvable” he reiterated.
Nigeria has been plunged into a humanitarian crisis. Since the rise of the Boko Haram terrorist group in 2013, a lot of terror groups and armed gangs have emerged, and the kidnapping of innocent civilians, including toddlers less than one year old, has increased.
The US government declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in December 2020 and October 2025 and conducted air strikes on 25 December 2025 against the Islamic State (IS) militants in northwest Nigeria.
Bishop John further prayed to God to intervene and bring an end to the carnage in Nigeria and save the country.
“To the only wise God we give you praise. To the God of the universe we give you praise. To the everlasting Father we give you praise. To the God who controls the heavens and the earth we give you praise. To the God in whom all flesh lies in the palms of his hands we give you praise. To the God that enthrones and dethrones we give you praise. To the God who holds the life of all flesh in his hands we give you praise.
“We come to lift up our country Nigeria before thy throne. We ask you God, you are the one that created our nation. You are the one that gave birth to that country. You are the one that gave birth to everyone in that country. Father, you promised that you are there with the poor. You promised that you will deliver the oppressed. You promised that those who are oppressed will be set free that the humble might know that you are the living God. Arise O God over Nigeria. Arise and intervene in the affairs of wicked men,” the cleric maintained.
The number of 52,000 Christians killed in Nigeria since 2009 has been cited by many religious advocacy groups, though the exact toll, remains a subject of intense debate.
The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety has reported that at least 52,000 Christians have been killed, 18,500 abducted, and over 20,000 Christian Churches and schools attacked between 2009 and 2023.
However, The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) argued that about 53,000 civilians, both Muslims and Christians have been killed in targeted violence and terror attacks across Nigeria since 2009.
ACLED noted that while individual Christians are frequently targeted, the majority of deaths are attributed to overarching political instability, regional terrorism, and broader socio-economic conflicts.
The perpetrators of these terror attacks, insurgency and violent persecutions are primarily linked to extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed Fulani militant groups.
While international human rights organizations and many Christian organizations in Nigeria such as CAN have described the violence as an ongoing, systematic targeting of Christians, the Nigerian government has refuted the claims of religious genocide, attributing the casualties to a complex mix of resource disputes, socioeconomic factors, and general terrorism.
