Proactive Security Alerts Allowed Villagers to Blunt Attacks
(Washington, D.C.) — Amid Nigeria’s relentless sectarian violence, Iowa-based non-profit Equipping The Persecuted likely has pulled down the number of Christian deaths in 2024, according to Nigerians in the embattled Middle Belt.
Deaths in horrific village massacres dropped 39 percent, from 8,222 in 2023 to 5,023 in 2024. The reduction was largely due to highly accurate terror alerts posted by ETP and its new news site, TruthNigeria.com, according to community spokesmen. In addition, ETP trained local village security teams to apply proactive measures and equipped them with radios and protective gear.
The terror alerts helped Nigerian military’s quicker response to incidents in 2024. Village leaders in Plateau State credit TruthNigeria’s candid, vivid coverage of attacks with motivating Nigerian Army units to maintain a stronger presence in dangerous areas.
Matthew Damla, leader of the community watch team of Butura Kampani Village in Bokkos County of Plateau State, reported, “We saw the TruthNigeria Security alert on Jan. 17, 2024. We heard the terrorists were coming, so we committed to continuous watches. This early alert enabled the evacuation of more than 1,000 women and children to safety.”
Origins of Equipping the Persecuted
Founded by evangelical missionary Judd Saul, Equipping The Persecuted has been pivotal in providing hands-on support and emergency aid to persecuted Christians across Nigeria. TruthNigeria.com, a joint effort of Nigerian and American investigative reporters also established by Saul, has played a critical role in issuing highly accurate terror alerts with a 96.9 percent precision rate. At least 62 of 65 alerts that warned of village attacks were predictive, according to senior editor of TruthNigeria Masara Kim.
This testimony highlights the importance of early warning systems and community-led self-defense initiatives in preventing terrorist attacks.
Nigeria is suffering a Christian genocide, as illustrated by the quadrennial report from The Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa in August 2024. ORFA reported 55,000 civilians – half of them Christian – were killed in targeted attacks between 2019 and 2023, averaging about 37.7 deaths daily over this period. The grim reality is further affirmed by Amnesty International, which documented more than 1,336 murders in Plateau State alone from December 2023 to February 2024.
Publishing more than 1,580 investigative articles, TruthNigeria has empowered communities with crucial knowledge to protect themselves. “Local intelligence is very important,” affirmed Mr. Chris Kwaja, Country Director of the United States Institute of Peace in Nigeria, who urged public investment in initiatives such as TruthNigeria to combat insurgency and organized crime.
“Through the rigorous and timely information provided by TruthNigeria, we are not only witnessing a decrease in the number of attacks but also a substantial reduction in casualties,” stated Judd Saul. “Our commitment extends beyond immediate aid; we are here to ensure lasting safety and peace for every Christian in Nigeria, free from the threat of persecution.”
The continued efforts of Equipping The Persecuted and TruthNigeria also respond to concerns raised by international observers and U.S. lawmakers, advocating for Nigeria’s redesignation as a country of particular concern for religious freedom violations.
As Equipping The Persecuted pushes forward in its critical mission, the need for global community support is ever pressing. The organization seeks ongoing backing and donations to sustain and enhance the vital services they offer, ensuring a sustained decline in violence and persecution.
For more information, to donate, or to join in their mission, please visit www.EquippingThePersecuted.org
