The ISHR helps survivors

Human rights observers in Nigeria remain alarmed: Around the Easter holidays, militant Islamists again carried out several attacks on church communities. At least 26 Christians were killed over the Easter weekend, including 17 people on Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026, in the village of Mbalom in the southeastern state of Benue. On Easter Sunday, five more Christians were murdered during a church service in the north-central state of Kaduna.

The Nigerian military reported that 31 hostages were freed after a fierce firefight with the terrorists during the attack. However, the perpetrators usually go unpunished, as was likely the case a week earlier, on Palm Sunday, when 40 Christians were killed in Angwan. Rukuba in Plateau State fell victim to an Islamist attack.

In Nigeria, tens of thousands of Christians have been murdered since the rise of the radical Islamist militia Boko Haram and its call to jihad in 2009. The Islamic State West Africa Province and radicalised Islamic pastoral gangs are also responsible for numerous attacks and raids resulting in murder, rape, kidnapping, and arson. Despite the enormous scale of these crimes, they receive only marginal media coverage in this country, if any at all.

For years, the ISHR has demonstrated solidarity with the Christian population, which is increasingly coming under pressure. Since 2005, when the ISHR first encountered victims of Islamist violence on the ground, it has been helping many of those affected, alongside its board member, the Catholic priest Professor Obiora Ike. Through him, the ISHR became acquainted with the local aid organization “Women Empowerment through Education” (WETE), which originated from the initiative of the Nigerian nun Dr. Mary Rose-Claret Ogbuehi.

WETE strives to support girls and women who have survived jihadist attacks—through psychological support, education, and start-up assistance—so they can rebuild their lives. With the help of its donors, the ISHR (International Society for Human Rights) enables the aid organisation to cover the costs of training for young women who initially faced destitution as a result of such violence. The students learn practical skills and accounting at the Nazareth Vocational School in Enugu (southern Nigeria).

“Thank you so much for your generous support of WETE and your help. I am very grateful,” wrote Sister Claret in an email on March 30, 2026.

The current school year ends in July. New students can be admitted in September. Some of the applicants have experienced horrific things:

“Agnes C. comes from Ugbawka and is 19 years old. Her parents are farmers, and terrorists broke into their farm, kidnapped and maimed people. The family managed to escape, but now they don’t dare return to their farmland. Since the income from farming was their main source of income, they now live in abject poverty,” reports Sister Claret.

The ISHR has assured her that its support will open up new opportunities for Agnes and other candidates. The costs amount to approximately 350 euros per year per apprenticeship.