ABSTRACT

This study examines persecution, insecurity, and Christian identity in Nigeria, exploring how contemporary experiences of suffering shape faith, communal life, and moral witness. The problem addressed arises from recurring attacks on Christians, abductions, destruction of worship spaces, and systemic marginalization, which threaten both personal security and communal cohesion. Such challenges create urgent questions regarding how Nigerian Christians interpret suffering and sustain identity amid persistent hostility. Adopting a qualitative sociological approach, the study employed document analysis of Nigerian scholarly works and New Testament narratives, complemented by oral interviews with clergy, lay leaders, and community members. This methodology enabled a nuanced understanding of both the social and theological dimensions of persecution. Findings indicate that persecution is patterned, socially mediated, and deeply impactful on Christian identity. It intensifies faith, strengthens communal bonds, and reshapes theological self understanding, as believers interpret suffering as both a test and a form of participation in Christ’s own trials. New Testament narratives of Jesus and the early church provide interpretive frameworks that guide meaning-making, encourage endurance, and promote ethical witness. The study concludes that persecution, while challenging, functions as both a crucible and a catalyst for resilience, communal solidarity, and moral witness among Nigerian Christians. Recommendations include strengthening institutional protection and advocacy to safeguard Christian communities, and promoting faith-based resilience programs that enhance communal support, ethical witness, and spiritual formation.