Calls to end government aid to Nigeria, following further killings of Christians have been described as 'misguided'. 

14 Christians from the Kogi state in the country's north-eastern belt were killed by Islamic extremists in the last week. 

Around 1,350 Christians were killed last year and many more have lost their homes. 

Stephen Rand, advisor to religious freedom group Open Doors told Premier: "If you simply cut all aid to Nigeria, the people who would genuinely suffer would be the poorest families and displaced communities living in camps."

An opinion poll by Savanta ComRes found 50 per cent of those aware of the situation supported a move to 'withhold all foreign aid to Nigeria until the persecution of Christians is ended'. Only 16 per cent disagreed.

"The more important thing I think is for the UK government to seriously engage with the Nigerian government and say what can we do to support you and actually take serious action," said Rand. 

"A simple threat to withdraw aid is unlikely to change anything."

Campaigners claim the current Nigerian government has done little to end the violence. In fact a recent report from the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief reported: "there was consensus that the Nigerian government's response to [the] conflict has been inadequate or ineffective."

Part of the problem has been the lack of desire to acknowledge the real issues at play. 

"Neither the Nigerian government nor the UK government will acknowledge the root of this violence against Christians is religious." Rand added.