KADUNA, Nigeria (AP) — Much of northern Nigeria has been struck by conflict in an ongoing security crisis, and U.S. President Donald Trump has singled the country out for what he calls “the killing of Christians” by “radical Islamists.”
Victims and church leaders have reiterated Trump’s claims that Christians are persecuted, saying they’ve long been attacked, kidnapped or killed over their faith.
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A woman and others who were kidnapped during a church service in November 2024 waves outside her house in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Deborah Reuben, who was kidnapped with others in her community and later released after ransom was paid, clears the grass from a farm in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Deborah Reuben, a woman who was kidnapped with others in her community and later released after ransom was paid, listens to a question during an interview in Kaduna, northwestern, Nigeria, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Haruna Adamu, an imam who said he has lost two brothers in the violence, performs ablutions outside a mosque in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Haruna Adamu, an imam who said he’s lost two brothers to violence, prays with others at a mosque in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Haruna Adamu, an imam who said he has lost two brothers in his country’s violence, leaves after a prayers at a mosque in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The Rev. Micah Bulus, left, a pastor who was kidnapped along with others from a service in November 2024, speaks with church members in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Tabitha Danladi, a 52-year-old mother of four who was kidnapped in June and later released and told to raise money to free her husband, is shown during an interview with The Associated Press in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. "I've sold everything and they have been collecting ransoms but we don't know if he's still alive," said Danladi. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Idris Ishaq, an Imam who said he lost his grandson, cousin and elder brother in different attacks since 2022, prays at the central mosque in Kaduna northwestern, Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Idris Ishaq, an imam who said he’s lost his grandson, cousin and elder brother in different attacks since 2022, prays at the central mosque in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
A woman walk past a church were worshipers and their pastor were kidnapped during a church service in Nov. 2024, Kaduna northwestern, Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The Rev. Micah Bulus, right, standing, a pastor who was kidnapped along with others from a church service in November 2024, speaks with church members in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
But many insist the reality isn’t that simple, with experts and residents saying most attacks emphasize the widespread violence that has long plagued the West African nation, where everyone is a potential victim, regardless of background or belief.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A woman and others who were kidnapped during a church service in November 2024 waves outside her house in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Deborah Reuben, who was kidnapped with others in her community and later released after ransom was paid, clears the grass from a farm in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Deborah Reuben, a woman who was kidnapped with others in her community and later released after ransom was paid, listens to a question during an interview in Kaduna, northwestern, Nigeria, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Haruna Adamu, an imam who said he has lost two brothers in the violence, performs ablutions outside a mosque in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Haruna Adamu, an imam who said he’s lost two brothers to violence, prays with others at a mosque in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Haruna Adamu, an imam who said he has lost two brothers in his country’s violence, leaves after a prayers at a mosque in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The Rev. Micah Bulus, left, a pastor who was kidnapped along with others from a service in November 2024, speaks with church members in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Tabitha Danladi, a 52-year-old mother of four who was kidnapped in June and later released and told to raise money to free her husband, is shown during an interview with The Associated Press in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. "I've sold everything and they have been collecting ransoms but we don't know if he's still alive," said Danladi. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Idris Ishaq, an Imam who said he lost his grandson, cousin and elder brother in different attacks since 2022, prays at the central mosque in Kaduna northwestern, Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Idris Ishaq, an imam who said he’s lost his grandson, cousin and elder brother in different attacks since 2022, prays at the central mosque in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
A woman walk past a church were worshipers and their pastor were kidnapped during a church service in Nov. 2024, Kaduna northwestern, Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The Rev. Micah Bulus, right, standing, a pastor who was kidnapped along with others from a church service in November 2024, speaks with church members in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
