Nigerian leaders are clubbing together to call for more to be done for the African country's persecuted Christians.

The group is calling itself the "Joint Christian Body against Insecurity in Nigeria" and is urging Christians in the region to stand up to their persecutors.

Christian organisation Open Doors ranks Nigeria as one of the top ten places for persecution of Christians, according to its World Watch List (2024).

And according to Global Christian Relief, at least 4,000 Christians are killed in Nigeria every year.

Islamic extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) and Fulani militant herdsmen are responsible for thousands of killings, kidnappings and the destruction of churches and communities.

The Catholic news site The Crux reports that the most recent massacre took place this Easter, when Fulani jihadist herdsmen killed about 170 people in Nigeria’s Plateau and Benue states.

International Christian Concern says that at least 300 Christians were massacred in Nigeria in the first three months of 2025. Dozens more have been abducted and thousands displaced.

A statement by the Joint Christian Body against Insecurity in Nigeria, signed by Nwankwo Tony Nwaezeigwe, PhD, president of the International Coalition against Christian Genocide in Nigeria (ICAC-GEN), said: "Enough is enough." It went on to say that a Christian is "no longer the worth of a Fulani cow."

"It has become obvious to the Nigerian Christian that the Government of the day, both Federal and States, are shamelessly supportive of the on-going senseless and gruesome killing of innocent Christians."

As well as these killings, hundreds of Christian clergy have been kidnapped or killed in recent years. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and others say they are seen as a target. Seminaries and schools have also been attacked, with students abducted and some murdered.

Nigeria was a British colony from the late 19th century until independence in 1960.

As of January this year, UK officials have engaged with Nigerian counterparts to discuss security challenges and the importance of freedom of religion. Discussions were held with the deputy speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, emphasising the need to bring perpetrators of violence to justice.

The UK government has also allocated £38 million to the SPRING programme, aiming to address the root causes of intercommunal violence in northern Nigeria.