Hundreds of people gathered outside the Nigerian embassy in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday to show solidarity with Christians who have been kidnapped and attacked in Nigeria. The demonstration reflects growing international concern over the recent wave of abductions and attacks targeting religious communities in the country.
The protest follows the recent abduction of more than 250 children from a Catholic school in northern Nigeria just over a week ago, an incident that has sparked outrage both locally and globally. Demonstrators called for urgent intervention from international governments and aid organizations to help address the escalating crisis.
Christiana Wariboko, president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, addressed the crowd, urging global actors to take decisive action. “We are standing on behalf of Christians, representing Nigerian Christians. Please intervene and do something regarding the killings of Nigerian Christians,” she said, highlighting the growing insecurity and lack of protection for vulnerable communities.
Nigeria has experienced multiple violent incidents in recent weeks. In addition to the Catholic school abduction, gunmen attacked a predominantly Muslim school in Kebbi State, kidnapping 30 students before the government successfully secured their release. Security experts note that these attacks are often financially motivated, with schools considered easy targets due to inadequate security measures.
The recent wave of abductions has coincided with threats of military action in Nigeria from former US President Donald Trump, who cited alleged persecution of Christians by radical Islamist groups. However, human rights experts argue that the broader security crisis is complex, noting that more Muslims than Christians have been killed by Boko Haram and related insurgent groups.
The Nigerian government has emphasized that claims of targeted persecution oversimplify the situation, pointing out ongoing efforts to protect religious freedom and safeguard vulnerable communities. In response to the rising violence, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency last week, strengthening the country’s police force and security agencies to better respond to attacks.
Since 2014, Nigeria has witnessed at least a dozen mass abductions of schoolchildren, with more than 1,799 students kidnapped in total. Many victims have never been rescued, highlighting the persistent threat posed by armed groups and the urgent need for sustained domestic and international efforts to ensure the safety of children and religious communities in the country.
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