Islamist Terrorists ISWAP Declares All Nigerian Christians Legitimate Targets, Burns Village
Islamic State West Africa Province released an image of a burning Christian village in Adamawa State alongside a statement declaring all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, offering believers the choice to convert to Islam or pay jizyah tax to avoid being killed.
ISWAP published the image showing flames consuming the Christian village with an accompanying statement asserting Christians can only "spare their blood" by either converting to Islam or paying jizyah, the Islamic tax historically imposed on non Muslims living under Islamic rule. The terror group's declaration represents an explicit religious targeting of Nigerian Christians and formal announcement of systematic persecution based solely on faith.
The statement marks an escalation in ISWAP's religious rhetoric against Christians, moving from sporadic attacks to formal declaration that all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate military targets under their interpretation of Islamic law. The jizyah tax reference indicates ISWAP views Nigeria as territory under Islamic control where Christians must either convert, pay tribute to Islamic rulers, or face death.
ISWAP operates primarily in northeastern Nigeria and has been responsible for numerous attacks on Christian communities, churches, and villages throughout the region. The terror group is affiliated with the Islamic State and represents one of multiple jihadist organizations operating across Nigeria including Boko Haram, Ansaru, and various armed Fulani militant factions.
The declaration comes as Release International warned that deaths of Nigerian Christians could double in 2026 without swift international action. More than 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the first 220 days of 2025 alone, with international watchdog groups estimating over 50,000 Nigerian Christians have been killed since 2009.
Adamawa State where the burned village is located has been particularly affected by jihadist violence, with churches canceling New Year crossover services after Christian leaders issued urgent security advisories warning of planned terrorist attacks during celebrations. The state sits in northeastern Nigeria where ISWAP and Boko Haram maintain significant presence and regularly conduct raids on Christian communities.
The formal declaration that all Christians are legitimate targets represents ideological justification for ongoing massacres, village burnings, church destructions, kidnappings, and forced conversions occurring across northern and central Nigeria. By invoking jizyah, ISWAP frames attacks not as random violence but as religious obligation against Christians who refuse Islamic rule.
The United States launched Christmas Day airstrikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria after President Donald Trump warned terrorists to stop slaughtering Christians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced plans to support persecuted Christians in Nigeria with intelligence and resources. However, ISWAP's latest statement indicates jihadist groups remain undeterred and continue expanding religious persecution campaigns against believers.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Convert to Islam. Pay jizyah tax. Or die.
ISWAP declared all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets. Every believer. Every church. Every village. All legitimate.
And they offered the Islamic choice historically given to conquered peoples. Submit. Pay tribute. Die.
This is exactly what 7,000 murdered Christians in 220 days looks like with official theology attached. This is why 50,000 believers have been killed since 2009. This is systematic religious genocide with doctrinal foundation.
The image shows flames consuming a Christian village. The statement explains why. Because they're Christians. That's the crime. That's the justification. That's the theology.
Western media will ignore this. They'll call it conflict. Banditry. Farmer herder violence. Anything except what ISWAP explicitly states it is: religious targeting of Christians for being Christian.
ISWAP isn't hiding their motives. They published the burning village. They explained their theology. They offered conversion or death. They're doing exactly what they say they're doing.
And the world pretends it's complicated.
It's not complicated. Christians are being exterminated because they're Christians. ISWAP says so. In writing. With photographic evidence.
Trump bombed ISIS positions. Netanyahu promised intelligence support. But ISWAP just declared open season on all Nigerian Christians.
This is genocide with theological justification published for the world to see. And most will never hear about it.
Because acknowledging Islamic terrorism against Christians doesn't fit approved narratives.
But that burning village is real. Those threatened Christians are real. And ISWAP's declaration is real.
Convert. Pay jizyah. Or die.
That's the choice Nigerian Christians face every single day.
TAKE ACTION
The Shepherds Shield - www.TheShepherdsShield.org
International Christian Concern: Website: https://www.persecution.org/countries/nigeria Phone: +1 (800) 422-5441 Email: icc@persecution.org Direct aid to Nigerian Christians facing ISWAP persecution
Demand Media Coverage: Contact news organizations demanding coverage of ISWAP's formal declaration that all Nigerian Christians are legitimate targets
Barnabas Fund: Website: https://barnabasfund.org Phone: +44 (0)1793 432 178 Emergency assistance to Nigerian believers
Start Conversations: Ask: "ISWAP released images of burning Christian villages and declared all Nigerian Christians legitimate targets unless they convert to Islam or pay jizyah tax. Why isn't this international news? Why isn't the world responding to published genocide?"
