Four beheaded on camera by Boko Haram militants

Four civilians have been murdered by extremists believed to be from Boko Haram – who released video footage of the appalling crime. At least one of those killed is believed to be targeted for being a Christian.

Horrific news has come from Borno State, in north east Nigeria. Four abducted people have been beheaded by extremists believed to be from Boko Haram – who also released a graphic video of the murders.

In the video, an armed terrorist, dressed in fatigues and speaking Hausa, told onlookers how one of the people he would behead was his younger sister. 

“She’s part of the infidels we will annihilate today,” he said. He went on to say that he would do the same if it were his mother or his own child – anyone ‘who goes against our religion’.

Before killing the people in the video, he said: “Wherever there is an infidel, we will go and find them out by ourselves and execute them.”

Christians considered ‘infidels’

It is believed that at least one of those killed is a Christian, though the faiths of the other three have not been confirmed. It is known that Christians are particularly vulnerable to extremist attacks in the region, as followers of Jesus are prioritised as targets under the extremists’ definition of ‘infidel’.

“Boko Haram extremists have clearly said time and time again that they are waging a jihad against people they call ‘infidels’ – that is anyone who does not sign up to their extreme interpretation of Islam,” says John Samuel*, Open Doors’ legal expert for sub-Saharan Africa. “Some of the people at the top of this list, then, are Christians who are clear targets because of their faith.”

35,000 civilians killed in the region

Some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than two million have been displaced in the north east region of Nigeria, according to UN numbers. However, with the attacks ongoing, the Borno State government has pushed for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return home.

“The authorities have offered incentives to returnees, such as food parcels or one-off payments,” says John Samuel. “Displaced Christians are very reluctant to return because of ongoing insecurity and unexploded mines planted in their villages. Some Christians who did return were attacked by militants and fled again.”

Stop the violence and start the healing

Across sub-Saharan Africa, 16.2 million Christians are displaced by conflict and violence. Nigeria is number six on the Open Doors World Watch List, ranking the countries where Christians face the most persecution for their faith – but this violence is escalating across neighbouring and nearby countries as well.

In response to this violence and displacement crisis, the African church is asking the global church to stand with them to stop the violence and start the healing – through prayer, support and signing the Arise Africa petition. It calls for displaced and vulnerable Christians to be given protection, justice and restoration.

Please pray for the family and friends of those killed in this appalling way, and for an end to this violence in Borno State, and in the other parts of Nigeria and surrounding countries.

*Name changed for security reasons