ISWAP Imposes Jizyah on Adamawa Christians, Sparking Global Alarm
The humanitarian crisis in Northeast Nigeria has intensified as reports confirm that ISWAP Jizyah Adamawa Christians is forcing thousands of residents into an impossible choice between their faith and their livelihoods. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has reportedly demanded that Christian communities in northern Adamawa State either convert to Islam or pay a hefty “protection fee” known as Jizyah. This brutal enforcement strategy has been widely condemned as a modern form of religious persecution, leaving families vulnerable to violence, displacement, and economic ruin.
The situation escalated on January 1, 2026, when a video emerged showing a Christian village allegedly set ablaze by ISWAP militants. The footage, depicting homes and community structures reduced to ashes, sparked global outrage. International observers, including the U.S. State Department, condemned the attacks and called for immediate action to protect religious freedom in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for security interventions in affected areas.
Local sources confirm that the Jizyah enforcement is not merely symbolic. In villages where residents cannot meet the financial demands, ISWAP has reportedly conducted punitive raids, destroyed farmlands, and abducted community leaders. A local Christian organization warned that the insurgents’ “shadow administration” is steadily replacing legitimate governance in these remote areas. Thousands of families have already fled into the mountains or sought refuge in Yola, as the imposed tax often exceeds the total annual income of subsistence farmers.
READ ALSO: ISWAP Forces Christians in Adamawa to Pay Jizyah or Convert
In response, the Nigerian military has deployed tactical units to the border areas of Adamawa, aiming to disrupt ISWAP’s operations and halt the illegal tax collection. Yet, the guerrilla tactics of the insurgents make permanent protection challenging. This crisis underscores the dangerous intersection of economic exploitation and religious extremism in the region. For Adamawa’s Christian communities, the dawn of 2026 has become a desperate plea for international intervention to preserve lives, livelihoods, and the sacred right to worship without fear of coercion.
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