Catholic Church in Nigeria

The Latest

Janada Marcus with Pope Francis at the general audience on March 8, 2023.

Pope Francis meets with two Nigerian girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram

Mar 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares, Peter Pinedo

The women, who both saw members of their families murdered by Boko Haram, met with the pope at the end... Read more

Janada Marcus, 22, was forced to flee Boko Haram with her family twice before the terrorists attacked them again, killing her father and kidnapping her.

‘My parishioners shot dead in cold blood’: Priests, lay faithful describe attacks in Nigeria

Mar 8, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Aid to the Church in Need has released firsthand testimonies of Catholic faithful who have survived torture, kidnappings, and massacres. Read more

Map of Nigeria.

Report: Wave of murders after elections in Nigeria forces Catholic diocese staff to evacuate

Mar 3, 2023

By Agnes Aineah

Dozens of people were reportedly killed in attacks on villages in Nigeria’s Benue State Wednesday, a diocesan official said. Read more

A group of people protest the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections and the emergence of the candidate of All Progressives Congress' (APC) Bola Tinubu as the president-elect in Abuja, Nigeria, on March 1, 2023.

Muslim-Muslim ticket proclaimed winner of Nigeria’s presidential election amid protests

Mar 1, 2023

By Douglas Burton

The country’s Catholic bishops, among others, have sharply criticized the Independent Nigerian Election Commission for its handling of the vote... Read more

Supporters hold a placard with pictures of the candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi and running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed during a campaign rally of the party in Lagos, Nigeria, on Feb. 11, 2023.

Nigerians head to the polls to choose a new president — and brace for post-election violence

Feb 23, 2023

By Douglas Burton

Peter Obi, one of three leading candidates, is Catholic and a popular former governor. Read more

Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke, bishop of the southern Nigerian diocese of Ekwulobia, pictured as he took possession of his titular church in Rome on Feb. 5, 2023.

Nigeria’s newest cardinal: Presidential election will ‘either make or break Nigeria’

Feb 23, 2023

By Courtney Mares

With Nigeria’s escalating violence, a lot is at stake in the presidential election this week in Africa’s most populous country,... Read more

In an interview with ACN, Clement Usoo, 65, described witnessing the massacre of members of his family at the hands of Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria.

Witness to horror: A Christian farmer in Nigeria saw his family massacred

Feb 16, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Clement Usoo, whose family was massacred by Fulani herdsmen in 2019, shared his story in a testimony published Wednesday by... Read more

Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke offers Mass in Rome at his titular church, the Holy Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Parish, on Feb. 5, 2023.

Nigeria’s newest cardinal shares secret behind the highest Mass attendance in the world

Feb 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke said Nigerian society as a whole has “a traditional worldview” that recognizes the presence of God... Read more

Pope Francis (left); Bishop Rolando Álvarez (right)

Pope Francis asks Virgin Mary to intercede for Nicaragua after bishop sentenced to 26 years in prison

Feb 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“The news from Nicaragua has grieved me a great deal,” the pope said. Read more

Father Isaac Achi, a Nigerian Catholic priest, was murdered in Niger State on Jan. 15, 2023.

State Department official: ‘After careful review’ Nigeria to remain off religious freedom watch list

Feb 8, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

A U.S. State Department official told EWTN that “after careful review” Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has decided not to... Read more

Altar of St. Francis Xavier Owo Catholic Parish of Ondo Diocese, Nigeria, where dozens were slain in a massacre on June 5, 2022.

Republican and Democrat leaders urge Biden to add Nigeria to list of countries violating religious freedom

Feb 1, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Rep. Chris Smith and a bipartisan group of leaders in Congress introduced a resolution Tuesday urging the State Department to... Read more

A group of school girls receiving the sacraments of baptism and confirmation in Onitsha, Anambra, Nigeria, on May 30, 2022.

Where is Mass attendance highest? One country is the clear leader

Jan 29, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A compilation of new data by researchers at Georgetown University sheds light on the countries around the world that have... Read more

Some victims of the attack at the hospital in Agan and Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria.

Priest describes ‘horrifying’ new attack on Catholics in Nigeria that leaves at least 11 dead

Jan 20, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

Alleged Fulani herdsmen on Jan. 19 attacked a village near Makurdi, the capital of Nigeria’s Benue State. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience in Paul VI Hall on Jan. 18, 2023.

Pope Francis: Jesus is ‘the unsurpassed model of evangelization’

Jan 18, 2023

By Courtney Mares

At his weekly public audience, Pope Francis said that one of the best images to represent Jesus’ style of life... Read more

Pope Francis prays at the general audience, Oct. 19, 2022

Pope Francis prays for priest killed in Nigeria, asks for prayers for persecuted Christians

Jan 18, 2023

By Courtney Mares

At the end of his Wednesday audience, Pope Francis asked for people to join him in praying for persecuted Christians... Read more

Father Isaac Achi, a Nigerian Catholic priest, was murdered in Niger State on Jan. 15, 2023.

Catholic priest burned to death in Nigeria

Jan 15, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Another priest was shot in the Jan. 15 bandit attack but survived. Read more

null

Dozens still in captivity after Christmas Day attack in Nigeria, Catholic priest says

Jan 11, 2023

By Jude Atemanke

On Christmas Day 2022, militant Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists attacked Angwan Aku village, reportedly killing one person and abducting... Read more

Bishop Yakubu Kundi of the Diocese of Kafanchan, Nigeria.

Nigeria bishop: Pre-Christmas massacre part of ‘a deliberate plan to unleash evil’ against Christians

Dec 22, 2022

By Douglas Burton

Witnesses say armed Fulani herdsmen attacked several Christian villages on Dec. 18, leaving as many as 46 people dead and... Read more

CNA

Nigerian mother charged with blasphemy for defending murdered Christian student

Dec 20, 2022

By Peter Pinedo

Rhoda Jatau was arrested after forwarding a video of a Muslim denouncing the mob killing of Nigerian Christian college student... Read more

null

U.S. calls for investigation into Nigerian forced abortions, according to report

Dec 16, 2022

By Peter Pinedo

The U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, is seeking information from Nigerian authorities regarding evidence of a massive forced abortion... Read more