By Faith Chondol
Insecurity and displacement have been targeting Christian communities across Niger State, Christian leaders Said.
The claim was made by the Christians Statistics Committee and Nigeria Christian Youths in Politics at a press conference in Minna on Sunday.
Chairman of the committee, Deacon Marcus Salka, said the group estimated the Christian population in Niger State at 3.42 million, representing 45.7 per cent of the state’s projected 2025 population.
Salka said the estimate was based on demographic projections, surveys and research, noting that Nigeria’s last official population census did not capture religious affiliation.
According to him, Niger State’s projected 2025 population was 7,478,417, putting the estimated Christian population at approximately 3,417,636.
He attributed changes in the distribution of Christian communities to prolonged insecurity in Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Wushishi, Magama and other parts of the state.
Salka alleged that repeated attacks had resulted in deaths and forced some residents to flee their communities.
“Following the incessant insecurity in Christian-dominated local government areas, especially Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Wushishi, Magama and others, majority of our people were killed, others relocated,” he said.
The group further said that the displacement was part of what it described as a deliberate attempt to reduce the Christian population in affected communities.
Despite the displacement, Salka said Christians remained present in both rural and urban communities across Niger State.
He also rejected claims that limited Christian participation in active politics indicated a small Christian population in the state.
“That some Christians do not participate in active politics does not mean we do not have the number. Christians make up a significant population in Niger State,” he said.
The group said Christians were present across all 25 local government areas of the state, with denominations including Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Evangelical and African Instituted churches.
Salka said the group’s estimate put Christians at 45.7 per cent of the state’s population, while the other two major religious categories were estimated at approximately 46.1 per cent and 8.2 per cent.
He, however, stressed that the figures were estimates and did not constitute an official religious breakdown from a national census.
The group said it would continue to challenge what it described as inaccurate representations of the Christian population in Niger State.
“We cannot, and we will never keep quiet to allow those who do not know our population to project or assume figures for us for selfish interests,” Salka said.
The committee also cited the 2006 census population of Niger State as 3,950,249, comprising 2,032,725 males and 1,917,524 females.
It said the state’s projected 2025 population stood at 7,478,417, comprising 3,790,197 males and 3,688,220 females.
The population and religious figures cited by the group remain estimates, as Nigeria’s official census data does not provide a religious breakdown.
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